History of Black History Month | Britannica

Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos Why is Black History Month in February? Why is Black History Month in February? Learn the history and meaning of Black History Month in the United States. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Learn the history and meaning of Black History Month in the United States. Why is Black History Month in February? © UK Parliament Education Service (A Britannica Publishing Partner) Learn how the United States elects the offices of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the president, and the vice president in the 21st century and how this system compares to that of other countries, such as the United Kingdom. Know how the United States elects the offices of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the president, and the vice president unlike the United Kingdom © UK Parliament Education Service (A Britannica Publishing Partner) Learn about the importance of Black History Month in the United Kingdom. Hear about the significance of celebrating Black History Month in the United Kingdom Official White House Video Pres. Barack Obama announcing that U.S. forces had killed Osama bin Laden, May 2011. Watch the speech by U.S. Pres. Barack Obama announcing the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces, May 2011 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Learn more about Maryland and its geography, people, economy, and history. Maryland: From John Smith to Thurgood Marshall © Civil War Trust (A Britannica Publishing Partner) Overview of the Siege of Boston during the American Revolution. Understand how Washington organized the Continental Army while besieging the British forces in Boston Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Weerayos Surareangchai/Dreamstime.com Overview of the global financial crisis of 2007–08. How did the 2007–08 global financial crisis unfold? Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Learn about the Stonewall uprising, the riots outside New York's Stonewall Inn that sparked a new era of LGBTQ activism. What were the Stonewall riots? Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. After the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran in November 1979 by Iranian students aligned with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, more than 50 Americans were held hostage for 444 days. What was the Iran hostage crisis? Related Articles: Black History Month News • Gov. Wes Moore on Trump: 'I pray for him and I just feel bad for him' • Feb. 19, 2026, 8:37 AM ET (AP) ...(Show more) The Latest: Many Democrats are still down on the Democratic Party, AP-NORC poll finds • Feb. 18, 2026, 8:05 PM ET (AP) Trump, weeks after backlash over racist post, hosts Black History Month reception • Feb. 18, 2026, 6:17 PM ET (AP) Trump's racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it • Feb. 6, 2026, 11:59 PM ET (AP) Black History Month centennial channels angst over anti-DEI climate into education, free resources • Feb. 1, 2026, 4:42 PM ET (AP) Show less Transcript Black History Month is a month-long commemoration of African American history and achievement that takes place every February in the United States. Although first officially recognized in 1976, its origins go back to the beginning of the 20th century with Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-educated historian. Because he believed that the majority of historians ignored African American contributions, Woodson founded what is now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Together, Woodson and that organization came up with the idea of a Black History Week to honor African Americans’ impact on the history of the United States. CARTER G. WOODSON: In celebrating Negro History Week, you emphasize the achievements of persons of African descent. In 1926 the first Black History Week was celebrated in the second week in February. The time was chosen because of its proximity to the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, the president responsible for the Emancipation Proclamation, and Frederick Douglass, the renowned orator and abolitionist. Over the next couple of decades, the popularity of Black History Week grew, aided in particular by the American civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Educators across the country used the week to discuss and celebrate the achievements of Black Americans such as Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, and many others. In 1976 Black History Week was expanded and formally recognized as Black History Month as a part of the United States’ bicentennial celebration. Today, Black History Month is celebrated through events held by communities, museums, and schools to commemorate African Americans’ impact on history. Last Modification: Feb. 19, 2026