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Black American history is a part of and represents American history. African Americans have become pioneers in many facets of society, from groundbreaking medical discoveries to entertainment and politics. With endless historic accomplishments and discoveries made by African Americans overtime, the black race has become even more prevalent as other races. For the past 32 years from February 1^st through February 28^th, those achievements made by black Americans are placed on display nationally in what is known as Black History Month.

These two historians have done a great amount for African Americans from Lincoln freeing the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation to Douglass’ abolitionist work.

Carter G. Woodson is referred as the father of black history and the force behind Black History Month. At the time of its formation, the month long celebration was only a week long, celebrated during the month of February and called Negro History Week. Woodson was the son of two former slaves and spent most of his childhood growing up in coal mines in West Virginia. Educating himself, Woodson didn’t receive a formal education until the age of 20 when he completed a four-year secondary program in two years. Later receiving his PhD in history from Harvard University, Woodson was the second black person to graduate from Harvard (the first was W.E.B. Dubois). As a professor of history at Howard University and secondary schools in Washington, D.C., Woodson was disappointed by the lack of historic information printed about African Americans. Printed in many of the textbooks was information that showed the inferiority the white race had over blacks.

Black American history is a part of and represents American history.

With his renewed passion to have black history fully integrated into society, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History was formed in 1915. The organization’s main purpose was getting out information on historic achievements and work of black Americans. The way of getting out this information to the masses came through the Journal of Negro Life, a scholarly journal that educated others on the past and present history of African Americans.

To fully execute his plan, Woodson’s fraternity brothers put together Negro History and Literature Week, which was later renamed as Negro Achievement Week in 1925. The week long event was only a program in and around the black community until Woodson decided in 1926 to expand the program to a nationwide week long event. The week that the event was observed held great significance because it was the national birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. These two historians have done a great amount for African Americans, from Lincoln freeing the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation to Douglass’ abolitionist work. In the United Kingdom, Black History is also celebrated during the month of October.

It is reported that Woodson one day wanted Black History Month to be erased, but only when African American history was fully integrated into society as American history.

Frederick Douglass

After Woodson’s death in 1950, Negro History Week continued with the renewed persistence to get Woodson’s message out to the public. In 1976, the lobbying of the organization Woodson established in 1915 extended the week celebration to a month long celebration in February and renamed it Black History Month. Since 1976, the month of February has been marked with a different theme to correlate with Black History Month. It is reported that Woodson one day wanted Black History Month to be erased, but only when African American history was fully integrated into society as American history.

Woodson was disappointed by the lack of historic information printed about African Americans

Haney, Elissa (2007). The history of black history month. Retrieved January 02, 2008, from Infoplease Web site: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmintro1.html

CNN, (2007, January 31). Education with Students News: Extra History of black history month. Retrieved January 03, 2008, from CNN Web site: http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/01/30/extra.black.history.month/index.html

Scott, Daryl M (2007). The history of black history month. Retrieved January 13, 2008, from ASALH Web site: http://www.asalh.org/blackhistorymonthorigins.html

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