National African American History Month
Every February, Americans celebrate National African American History Month. African Americans have made many notable contributions to the United States over the years, and those achievements are a focal point of celebrations throughout the month of February. Despite the many contributions of African Americans, black history was largely overlooked until the 20th century. National African American History Month, once known as Black History Month, is the result of an idea from noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. While the concept of a time devoted to honoring African American history evolved as early as the mid-19th century, when the 13th Amendment
abolished slavery in the United States, more formal celebrations started as “Negro History Week” during the 1960s civil rights movement. Such celebrations ultimately grew and became more widely recognized. February was chosen to be the month to commemorate African American history because it already featured the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two individuals instrumental in furthering the antislavery movement. In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month, calling on the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”