To recall and celebrate the positive contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, a noted African American author and scholar, Carter G. Woodson, established Black History Week. The first celebration occurred on February 12, 1926. In February of 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded into “Black History Month.” This celebration has increasingly been referred to as “African American History Month,” although both names are currently in use.
To access a wealth of information on Black History Month, please visit the following links:
- Presidential Proclamation – National African American History Month 2010
- Barack Obama – First Black President of the United States
- Celebrate African American Heritage in America’s National Parks
- U.S. Census Bureau – Black History Month February 2010
- National African American History Month
- A Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and Culture
- Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
- Smithsonian’s African American History and Culture
- U.S. Department of Education – African Americans
- The Library of Congress – African American History: 17 Collections
- Statistics on African Americans in the U.S.
- USA.gov’s Culture and Ethnic Groups web page
