The Choice: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Black History Month
It is celebrated in February for a reason: FUBU.
Issue #985 The Choice, Friday, January 30, 2026
Far too often, I hear Black people ignorantly claiming that “they gave us” the “shortest month of the year for Black History Month. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In 1926, my great-grand uncle, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, started Negro History Week to encourage the study of African American history. He was a historian, author, and educator, and was one of the first scholars to study African American history in depth. Born in 1875 to formerly enslaved parents, Woodson understood the importance of preserving and promoting Black history. He earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1912, becoming only the second African American to do so after W.E.B. Du Bois.
In 1915, Dr. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The organization aimed to research and share the untold stories of African Americans, countering the widespread neglect and misrepresentation of Black history in mainstream narratives.
In 1926, Woodson and the ASNLH launched Negro History Week to encourage the study of African American history. They chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of two figures who played significant roles in Black history: Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became an abolitionist and orator. The timing was intentional, as it linked the celebration to the broader struggle for freedom and equality.
Negro History Week gained traction in schools, churches, and communities across the country. Educators and activists used the week to highlight the achievements of African Americans and challenge the pervasive stereotypes that marginalized Black people. Over time, the celebration inspired more interest in African American history and culture.
By the 1960s, during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the push for a broader recognition of Black history intensified. Activists and educators called for an expansion of Negro History Week into a month-long celebration.
In 1976, during the United States Bicentennial, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month. 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.” The ASNLH, under Woodson’s legacy, played a pivotal role in advocating for this recognition.
Since then, Black History Month has been observed annually in February, with a specific theme chosen each year by the ASALH. These themes highlight different aspects of African American history, from civil rights and education to arts and culture.
Today, Black History Month is celebrated across the United States and in other months in other countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom. It serves as a time to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of people of the African Diaspora.
Black History Month is celebrated in February because Dr. Woodson started Negro History Week in the 2nd week of February.
No one “gave us” anything.
In 2017, Donald Trump tried to change the name of Black History Month to “African American History Month,” but the initiative failed because he lacked the authority to rename the month.
While Black History Month has achieved widespread recognition, it also sparks ongoing discussions about the need to integrate African American history into the broader narrative of American history. Advocates argue that Black history should not be confined to a single month but should be acknowledged and taught year-round; however, again, Black History Month is celebrated for one month in February for a reason.
You hopefully celebrate yourself all year, but you observe your birthday on one day a year because that is the day you were born.
Black History Month is not just a celebration; it is a call to action. It encourages us to learn, reflect, and honor the contributions of African Americans who have shaped the world we live in. As we commemorate this month, we carry forward Dr. Woodson’s mission to ensure that Black history is never forgotten.
The Choice: We must ensure that the history and accomplishments of Black Americans and others in the African Diaspora are never erased. What will you learn and teach this Black History Month?
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