Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month, is an annual observance that originated in the United States. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently has been observed in Ireland, and the United Kingdom. It is celebrated in February in the United States and Canada; while in Ireland, and the United Kingdom it is observed in October.
The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be “Negro History Week”. This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12th and that of Frederick Douglass on February 14th. In February 1969, black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University proposed to expand the celebration to one month.
Today, Black History Month is celebrated all over the world. It is a time for people of all colors and cultures to seize the opportunity to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history.
