The Importance of Black History Month

For the entire month of February, you will see many images highlighting the accomplishments of Black Americans.

Jadilah Fernandez, Features Editor
February 7, 2023

Black History Month is an annual celebration of Black Americans and their achievements, as well as a time to recognize their essential role in the development of the United States. Besides the United States, countries like Canada and the United Kingdom devote a month to celebrate Black History.

Black History Month, starting February 1st, is celebrated through the month until the last day, 28th (SPS Columbia).


Origins of Black History Month

Back 1915, which was half a century after the thirteenth amendment banned slavery, Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian, as well as Jesse E. Moorland, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), which is dedicated to researching achievements by Black Americans and other people of African descent. Today, this organization is known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

After that, Negro History Week was introduced in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

By 1960, Negro History Week had evolved into Black History Month around the U.S and on many college campuses.

President Gerald Ford made Black History Month official in 1976, mentioning how it was crucial to honor the often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history.

Black History Month Today

Today, Black History Month is a time to honor the sacrifices of Black Americans, many of whom went unrecognized during their lifetime. Through the celebration, fortunately, their legacies live on. Activists and pioneers, including Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr. are just a handful of the many acknowledged throughout this month.

2023 Black History Month Theme

A tradition since the year 1976 for Black History Month is that every American president can endorse a specific theme during the month of February.

For 2023, the theme for Black History Month is “Black Resistance,” which encompasses how Black Americans have resisted ongoing oppression in all forms, including racism.

Fun Facts:

  • Black History Month began as Negro History Week
  • Black students protested on behalf of securing a Black History Month
  • Black History Month themes change yearly
  • Civil Rights leaders popularized Black History Month.
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), promote Black History year-round