Black History Month (A Brief Description)
By: Te’Asia Calhoun
What Is It?
What is Black History Month? Black History Month is an annual celebration of African-Americans’ achievements, resilience, and contributions to the United States of America. Countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom devote a month to Black History as well.
Negro History Week
Black History Month started off as Negro History Week in 1926. Negro History Week later emerged as Black History Month. The week started on the second week of February because the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass occur.
Creation and Theme
Carter G. Woodson is credited to be the ‘Father of Black History.’ President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month in 1976. Each year Black History Month has a theme. The theme for 2023 is Black Resistance. Black Resistance is honoring the fight African-Americans went through to break barriers, so they could have and give all of us an equal opportunity. Black Resistance also shows how African-Americans have resisted oppression then, and currently.
Black History Month is a necessity for all to celebrate and acknowledge. Every day we should celebrate the achievements and contributions of African-Americans. Black History Month is a great opportunity for everyone to educate themselves.
