Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month and was formerly known as Negro History Month before 1976.[4] It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora, initially lasting a week before becoming a month-long observation since 1970.[5] It is celebrated in February in the United States[6] and Canada,[7] where it has received official recognition from governments, but more recently has also been celebrated in Ireland and the United Kingdom where it is observed in October.[8][9]
The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week".[10] This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and that of Frederick Douglass on February 14, both of which Black communities had celebrated since the late 19th century.[10] For example, in January 1897, school teacher Mary Church Terrell persuaded the Washington, D.C. school board to set aside the afternoon of Douglass's birthday as Douglass Day to teach about his life and work in the city's segregated public schools.[11] The thought process behind the week was never recorded, but scholars acknowledge two reasons for its birth: recognition and importance.[12] In 1915, Woodson had participated in the Lincoln Jubilee, a celebration of the 50 years since emancipation from slavery held in Bronzeville, Chicago. The summer-long Jubilee, which drew thousands of attendees from across the county to see exhibitions of heritage and culture, impressed Woodson with the need to draw organized focus to the history of black people. He led the founding of the ASNLH in Chicago that fall, toward the end of the Jubilee.[11]
Early in the event's history, African-American newspapers lent crucial support.[13] From the event's initial phase, primary emphasis was placed on encouraging the coordinated teaching of the history of Black Americans in the nation's public schools. The first Negro History Week was met with a lukewarm response, gaining the cooperation of the departments of education of the states of North Carolina, Delaware, and West Virginia as well as the city school administrations of Baltimore, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.[14] Despite this limited observance, Woodson regarded the event as "one of the most fortunate steps ever taken by the Association", and plans for an annual repeat of the event continued.[14]
At the time of Negro History Week's launch, Woodson contended that the teaching of Black History was essential to ensure the physical and intellectual survival of Blacks within broader society:
If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated. The American Indian left no continuous record. He did not appreciate the value of tradition; and where is he today? The Hebrew keenly appreciated the value of tradition, as is attested by the Bible itself. In spite of worldwide persecution, therefore, he is a great factor in our civilization.[15]
In 1929, The Journal of Negro History noted that, with only two exceptions, officials with the state departments of education of "every state with considerable Negro population" had made the event known to that state's teachers and distributed official literature associated with the event.[16] Churches also played a significant role in the distribution of literature in association with Negro History Week during this initial period, with the mainstream and Black press aiding in the publicity effort.
Throughout the 1930s, Negro History Week countered the growing myth of the South's "lost cause", which argued that enslaved people had been well-treated, that the Civil War was a war of "northern aggression", and that Black people had been better off under slavery. Woodson wrote, "When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions, you do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it."[17]
Negro History Week grew in popularity throughout the following decades, with mayors across the United States endorsing it as a holiday.[10]
Black History Month (1970)
The Black United Students first Black culture center, Kuumba House in Kent State, where many events of the first Black History Month celebration took place[6]
Black educators and Black United Students at Kent State University first proposed Black History Month in February 1969. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State a year later, from January 2 to February 28, 1970.[6]
Six years later, Black History Month was being celebrated all across the country in educational institutions, centers of Black culture, and community centers, both great and small, when President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month in 1976, during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial. He urged Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history".[18]
Observance by region
United States
In the Black community, the creation of Black History Month was met with enthusiastic response; it prompted the creation of Black history clubs, an increase in interest among teachers, and interest from progressive whites.[10]
Since its inception, Black History Month has expanded beyond its initial acceptance in educational establishments. Carter Woodson's organization, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), designates a theme each year.[19] For example, "Black Health and Wellness" in 2022 focused on medical scholars, health care providers, and health outcomes.[20]The Wall Street Journal describes Black History Month as "a time when the culture and contributions of African Americans take center stage" in a variety of cultural institutions, including theaters, libraries, and museums.[21]
Black History Month has garnered attention from the U.S. business community.[22] In 2018, Instagram created its first Black History Month program with the help of its Head of Global Music & Youth Culture Communications, SHAVONE. Instagram's Black History Month program featured a series of first-time initiatives, including a #BlackGirlMagic partnership with Spotify and the launch of the #CelebrateBlackCreatives program, which reached more than 19 million followers.[23] In February 2020, many American corporations commemorated Black History Month, including The Coca-Cola Company, Google, Target Corporation, Macy's, United Parcel Service and Under Armour.[24]
On February 18, 2016, 106-year Washington, D.C., resident and school volunteer Virginia McLaurin visited the White House as part of Black History Month. When asked by President Barack Obama why she was there, McLaurin said: "A Black president. A Black wife. And I'm here to celebrate Black history. That's what I'm here for."[25][26]
United Kingdom
1822 handbill advertising a Black boxing tutor in Alnwick, Northumberland; tweeted by Northumberland Archives as part of Black History Month in 2020[27]
In the United Kingdom, Black History Month was first celebrated in October 1987[28] The year of 1987, recognized as the African Jubilee, was coincidentally the year of the 150th anniversary of Caribbean emancipation, the centenary of the birth of Marcus Garvey and the 25th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity, an institution dedicated to advancing the progress of African states.[29] Black History Month in the UK was organised through the leadership of Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who had served as a coordinator of special projects for the Greater London Council (GLC) and created a collaboration to get it underway.[30][31] The first Black History Month celebration in the UK was held in London on October 1, 1987, when Dr. Maulana Karenga from the US was invited to an event by the Greater London Council about Black people's contributions to history.[32]
Some institutions have faced criticism for supporting Black History Month with images of people from British Asian backgrounds, using the term "black" to refer to political blackness encompassing all people of color.[33]
Germany
In Berlin in 1990, members of the Black German community began observing Black History Month. Programs have included discussions of black Europeans, international African perspectives, the history of civil rights in the U.S., and apartheid in South Africa.[34]
Canada
In 1995, after a motion by politician Jean Augustine, representing the riding of Etobicoke—Lakeshore in Ontario, Canada's House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month (French: Mois de l'histoire des Noirs) and honored Black Canadians.[35] In 2008, Senator Donald Oliver moved to have the Senate officially recognize Black History Month, which was unanimously approved.[7]
Canada defines the festivity as an opportunity to celebrate "the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities who … have done so much to make Canada a culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous country".[36]
In 2020, Black History Month was celebrated in seven African countries for the first time. Participating countries were Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ivory Coast, Comores, Senegal and Cameroon. The event was initiated by the organisation Africa Mondo founded by Mélina Seymour. From 2021 onwards an African History Month was celebrated in March.[citation needed]
Developments
When first established, Black History Month resulted in some controversy.[40] Those who believed that Black History Month was limited to educational institutions questioned whether it was appropriate to confine the celebration of Black history to one month, as opposed to the integration of Black history into mainstream education for the whole year. Another concern was that, contrary to the original inspiration for Black History Month, which was a desire to redress how American schools failed to represent Black historical figures as anything other than enslaved people or colonial subjects, Black History Month could reduce complex historical figures to overly simplified objects of "hero worship". Other critics refer to the celebration as a form of racism.[41] Actor and director Morgan Freeman and actress Stacey Dash have criticized the concept of declaring only one month as Black History Month.[42][43] Freeman noted, "I don't want a Black history month. Black history is American history."[44]
Themes
In the US, a theme for each Black History Month is selected by the ASALH:[45][46][47]
1928: Civilization: A World Achievement
1929: Possibility of Putting Negro History in the Curriculum
1930: Significant Achievements of the Negro
1931: Neglected Aspects of Negro History
1932: What George Washington Bicentennial Commission Fail to Do
1933: Ethiopia Meets Error in Truth
1934: Contribution of the Negro in Poetry, in Painting, in Sculpture and in Science
1935: The Negro Achievements in Africa
1936: African Background Outlined
1937: American Negro History from the Time of Importation from Africa up to the Present Day
1938: Special Achievements of the Race: Oratory, Drama, Music, Painting, Sculpture, Science and Inventions
1939: Special Achievements of the Race: Religion, Education, Business, Architecture, Engineering, Innovation, Pioneering
1940: Negro Labor
1941: The Career of Frederick Douglass
1942: The Negro in Democracy
1943: The Negro in the Modern World
1944: The Negro and the New Order
1945: The Negro and Reconversion
1946: Let us Have Peace
1947: Democracy Possible only Through Brotherhood
1948: The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
1949: The Use of Spirituals in the Classroom
1950: Outstanding Moments in Negro History
1951: Eminent Negroes in World Affairs
1952: Great Negro Educators (Teachers)
1953: Negro History and Human Relations
1954: Negro History: A Foundation for Integration
1955: Negro History: A Contribution to America's Intercultural Life
1956: Negro History in an Era of Changing Human Relations
1957: Negro History
1958: Negro History: A Factor in Nationalism and Internationalism
1959: Negro History: A Foundation for a Proud America
1960: Strengthening America Through Education in Negro History and African Culture
1961: Freedom and Democracy for the Negro after 100 years (1861–1961)
1962: Negro History and a New Birth of Freedom
1963: Negro History Evaluates Emancipation (1863–1963)
1964: Negro History: A Basis for the New Freedom
1965: Negro History: Freedom's Foundation
1966: Freedom from Racial Myths and Stereotypes Through Negro History
1967: Negro History in the Home, School, and the Community
1968: The Centennial of the Fourteenth Amendment Afro American History Week
1969: Changing the Afro American Image through History
1970: 15th Amendment and Black America in the Century (1870–1970)
1971: African Civilization and Culture: A Worthy Historical Background
1972: African Art, Music, Literature; a Valuable Cultural Experience
1973: Biography Illuminates the Black Experience
1974: Helping America Understand
1975: Fulfilling America's Promise: Black History Month
1976: America for All Americans
1977: Heritage Days: The Black Perspective; the Third Century
1978: Roots, Achievements and Projections
1979: History: Torch for the future
1980: Heritage for America
1981: Black History: Role Model for Youth
1982: Afro American Survival
1983: Afro Americans in the United States
1984: Afro Americans and Education
1985: Afro American Family
1986: Afro American Experience: International Connection
1987: Afro Americans and the Constitution from Colonial Times to the Present
1988: Constitutional Status of Afro Americans in the 21st Century
1989: Afro Americans and Religion
1990: Seventy-Five Years of Scholarly Excellence: A Homage to Our Forebearers
1991: Educating America: Black Universities and Colleges, Strengths and Crisis
1992: African Roots Experience New Worlds, Pre-Columbus to Space Exploration
1993: Afro-American Scholars: Leaders, Activists and Writers
1994: Empowering Black Americans
1995: Reflections on 1895: Douglass, Du Bois & Washington
1996: Black Women
1997: African Americans and Civil Rights; a Reprisal
1998: Black Business
1999: Legacy of African American Leadership for the Present and the Future
2000: Heritage and Horizons: The African American Legacy and the Challenges for the 21st Century
2001: Creating and Defining the African American Community: Family, Church Politics and Culture
2002: The Color Line Revisited: Is Racism Dead?
2003: The Souls of Black Folks: Centennial Reflections
(federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific racial/ethnic grouporsexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) = Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies
