In February each year we start the month long celebration and recognition of Black History Month. Carter G. Woodson was a historian who is credited with establishing Black History Month. Along with the group now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), a Negro History Week was established that coincided with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln in 1926. Each year politicians across the country began issuing proclamations establishing “Negro History Week,” and by the 1960’s during the civil rights movement it evolved into Black History Month.
The month as we know it today was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976 in order to honor the often neglected achievements of Black American leaders in politics, science, culture, and more.
Every year the ASALH establishes a theme for the month. This year it is “Black Resistance” to explore the ways African Americans must navigate the historic and ongoing oppression in the United States including lynchings, mass murders, and police killings. Since the origins of this country Black Americans have had to fight to be treated equally as humans and this theme recognizes the past fight as well as the continued fight they still must face every single day.
iWomanTV is proud to celebrate Black History Month this year with all of you by uplifting all the great Black American leaders, both past and present, and their accomplishments and contributions.
Stay up to date on iWomanTV for all the latest news stories and dedications to Black legends all month long.