February is Black History Month, a time to reflect and celebrate the history, culture, and accomplishments of African-Americans in the U.S. and the African diaspora. Black History Month began as Negro History Week in 1926 after historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Woodson chose the second week of February for the commemoration to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and President Abraham Lincoln. The week was expanded to a month in 1970 and was formally recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976. The theme selected for the 2023 African American History Month is "Black Resistance." The founders of Black History month, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) states that "Black resistance strategies have served as a model for every other social movement in the country, thus, the legacy and importance of these actions cannot be understated." The theme was chosen given the importance of what is happening in the country and that "this is a call to everyone, inside and outside the academy, to study the history of Black Americans’ responses to establish safe spaces, where Black life can be sustained, fortified, and respected." Learn more about African American history and culture through this guide..
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