Here's the story behind Black History Month — and why it's celebrated in February
3 years, 1 month ago

Here's the story behind Black History Month — and why it's celebrated in February

NPR  

Here's the story behind Black History Month — and why it's celebrated in February Enlarge this image toggle caption Warren K Leffler/Universal History Archive/Getty Images Warren K Leffler/Universal History Archive/Getty Images Every February, the U.S. honors the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans who have helped shape the nation. Fifty years after the first celebrations, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month during the country's 1976 bicentennial. Forty years after Ford formally recognized Black History Month, it was Barack Obama, the nation's first Black president, who delivered a message of his own from the White House, a place built by slaves. Sponsor Message There's a new theme every year ASALH designates a new theme for Black History Month each year, in keeping with the practice Woodson established for Negro History Week.

History Black History Month Ford Lincoln Kaplan Woodson Negro Black American Douglass Black History Month Negro History Week Dulaney  celebrated  week  black  american  negro  americans  history  heres  health  african  month  theme

History of this topic

This Black History Month, we're highlighting stories from community changemakers
1 month ago

This Black History Month, we're highlighting stories from community changemakers

NPR  

This Black History Month, we're highlighting stories from community changemakers toggle caption Matheus Sastre, Xina Eiland, and Kathy Baxley Black history is American history, and it happens every single day. During Black History Month, many people focus on well-known historical figures like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Knowing this, the Up First newsletter asked NPR readers …

Trump hosts Black History Month event despite diversity crackdown
1 month ago

Trump hosts Black History Month event despite diversity crackdown

Raw Story  

U.S. President Donald Trump was joined by golfer Tiger Woods for an event marking Black History Month Thursday -- even as his crackdown on diversity programs has barred similar celebrations in some government departments. "Welcome to the White House, and we proudly celebrate Black History Month," Trump told a cheering crowd of mainly Black guests at the event, which has …

Trump holds Black History Month event amid anti-DEI push
1 month ago

Trump holds Black History Month event amid anti-DEI push

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump marked Black History Month at the White House on Thursday by making an appearance at a celebratory reception with a surprise guest, golf legend Tiger Woods, while calling out other athletes in attendance and marveling at the size of the crowd. AP AUDIO: Trump holds Black History Month event as some agencies skip recognition after …

Celebrating Black History Month: Stories of young heroes who changed the world
1 month, 1 week ago

Celebrating Black History Month: Stories of young heroes who changed the world

The Hindu  

What is Black History Month? Claudette Colvin One cannot miss mentioning Rosa Parks, widely known as the mother of Civil Rights Movement for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in 1955. His ability to articulate his views on racial justice, often with fierce determination, resonated with many and solidified his role as one of the most …

Trump's Black History Month Proclamation Not-So-Surprisingly Omits This Important Subject
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Trump's Black History Month Proclamation Not-So-Surprisingly Omits This Important Subject

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation recognizing Black History Month this February, despite his recent executive orders that have gutted diversity, equity and inclusion practices in organizations across the country since he took office last month. Additionally, Trump has ordered U.S. schools to stop teaching what he views as “critical race theory.” The Defense Department’s intelligence …

Did Donald Trump cancel Black History Month?
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Did Donald Trump cancel Black History Month?

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Amid President Donald Trump’s rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion …

Trump White House marks Black History Month while Defense Department declares ‘identity months dead’
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Trump White House marks Black History Month while Defense Department declares ‘identity months dead’

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Trump White House issued a proclamation Friday recognizing February as Black History Month around the same time the Defense Department issued guidance declaring “identity months dead.” The conflicting messages came as President Donald Trump has been targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs for removal in the first weeks of his administration. The White House proclamation calls for …

Black History Month explained: its origins, celebrations and myths
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Black History Month explained: its origins, celebrations and myths

Hindustan Times  

WASHINGTON — Beginning Feb. 1, schools, museums and communities across the nation will mark the start of Black History Month –- a celebration of Black history, culture and education. Black History Month explained: its origins, celebrations and myths The history of the month dates back almost a century, and the way it is celebrated and evolved has created history in …

Black History Month explained: Its origins, celebrations and myths
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Black History Month explained: Its origins, celebrations and myths

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Since then, presidents have made annual proclamations for National …

Black History Month explained: Origins, celebrations and myths
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Black History Month explained: Origins, celebrations and myths

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Beginning Feb. 1, schools, museums and communities across the nation will mark the start of Black History Month –- a celebration of Black history, culture and education. Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print The origins of the month Black History Month wasn’t always a monthlong celebration. “Additionally, some communities select specific …

White House Press Secretary's Puzzling Remark About Black History Month Spurs Questions
1 month, 3 weeks ago

White House Press Secretary's Puzzling Remark About Black History Month Spurs Questions

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to a question about Black History Month during her first press briefing on Tuesday — and many found her answer quite unsettling. At the briefing, White House correspondent April Ryan asked Leavitt whether President Donald Trump’s administration has plans to celebrate Black History Month this year, given the president’s ongoing …

Black Music Month has evolved since the 1970s. Here’s what you need to know
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Black Music Month has evolved since the 1970s. Here’s what you need to know

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — Every June since the 1970s, across the United States, musicians, fans and industry professionals celebrate Black Music Month. “Black Music Month was originally created to promote, protect, and perpetuate the business of Black music, not just to celebrate Black music,” says Cochrane. “During Black Music Month, we celebrate the Black artists and creatives whose work has so …

Opinion: Want to fight Trump’s lies? Consider these lessons from Black educators
1 year ago

Opinion: Want to fight Trump’s lies? Consider these lessons from Black educators

LA Times  

Speaking at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month, former President Trump spewed lies reflecting his ongoing efforts to rewrite the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Some have suggested Jan. 6 was a “peaceful protest” or ”normal tourist visit.” This revisionism serves many roles, but none more than to legitimize Trump’s attempt to undermine the U.S. Constitution. But it …

'Black History Month Is Not For Us'
1 year, 1 month ago

'Black History Month Is Not For Us'

Huff Post  

Illustration: HuffPost; Photo: Courtesy of MadeSTL, Getty In 2013, Simone Faure, a pastry chef from New Orleans, opened the James Beard-nominated La Patisserie Chouquette in St. Louis. ‘Black History Month Is Not For Us’ Black history should be American history because we are Americans. “This country is hundreds of years old and we are still trying to convince people that …

What you need to know about the origins of Black History Month
1 year, 1 month ago

What you need to know about the origins of Black History Month

LA Times  

Black History Month is considered one of the nation’s oldest organized history celebrations, and has been recognized by U.S. presidents for decades through proclamations and celebrations. for the Study of African American History, who first came up with the idea of the celebration that became Black History Month. for the Study of African American History, said Woodson chose that week …

What you need to know about the origins of Black History Month
1 year, 1 month ago

What you need to know about the origins of Black History Month

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It was Carter G. Woodson, a founder of the …

What you need to know about the origins of Black History Month
55 years, 2 months ago

What you need to know about the origins of Black History Month

Associated Press  

This article by former AP reporter Jesse J. Holland was originally published on Feb. 2, 2017. Woodson is a founder of the Association for the Study of African American History, who first came up with the idea of the celebration that became Black History Month. It was Carter G. Woodson, a founder of the Association for the Study of African …

Opinion: Here’s what celebrations of Juneteenth shouldn’t be missing
1 year, 9 months ago

Opinion: Here’s what celebrations of Juneteenth shouldn’t be missing

LA Times  

People participate in a car parade to mark Juneteenth on June 19, 2021, the first year the day was recognized as a federal holiday. It is impossible to celebrate a national holiday that marks the emancipation of Black people in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, without confronting the history of slavery and the role of education in freedom. Those …

1 side owned slaves. The other side started Black History Month. How a family heals
2 years, 1 month ago

1 side owned slaves. The other side started Black History Month. How a family heals

NPR  

1 side owned slaves. toggle caption Courtesy of Craig Woodson "That's how we have evolved here, as being a part of America," says Patty LaBauve, Edgar's niece. — Carter G. Woodson Craig apologized, saying he takes responsibility for the sins of his forefathers "There is no better family than the Woodson family to tell the story of what has happened …

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Celebrates Black History Month In The Worst Way
2 years, 1 month ago

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Celebrates Black History Month In The Worst Way

Huff Post  

Illustration:Jianan Liu/HuffPost Photo:Getty Images If a middle school student at a public school in Sarasota County, Florida, wants to read “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, one of their parents will have to be notified first. “Happy Black History Month — now let’s ban a book that says racism is wrong!” Tallulah Brand, a …

Black History Month 2024 has begun. Here's this year's theme and other things to know
2 years, 1 month ago

Black History Month 2024 has begun. Here's this year's theme and other things to know

NPR  

Black History Month 2024 has begun. "In the South, they tried to suppress Black history or African American history in the public schools," Dulaney says, "particularly about things like Reconstruction and slavery, literally distorting the curriculum." Across the country, public schools "created all these courses and mandates for Black history," unofficially creating a Black History Month, King said. By 1976, …

We can celebrate diversity without erasing Blackness
2 years, 5 months ago

We can celebrate diversity without erasing Blackness

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At this …

Black History Month should be renamed ‘accurate history month’
2 years, 5 months ago

Black History Month should be renamed ‘accurate history month’

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. As much as I love Black …

Black history is being made every single day – and it’s beautiful
2 years, 5 months ago

Black history is being made every single day – and it’s beautiful

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy October is …

Black August uplifted as alternative Black History Month
2 years, 7 months ago

Black August uplifted as alternative Black History Month

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — For Jonathan Peter Jackson, a direct relative of two prominent members of the Black Panther Party, revolutionary thought and family history have always been intertwined, particularly in August. “I certainly wish that more people knew about George’s writings knew about my father’s sacrifice on that fateful day in August,” said Jonathan Jackson, who wrote the foreword to “Soledad …

Why does Black History Month matter?
3 years, 1 month ago

Why does Black History Month matter?

NPR  

Why does Black History Month matter? Tilghman says the "core impulse" for his petition to end Black History Month was rooted in his childhood. "Let's talk about Black people" By the time he was growing up in New York City public schools in the 1980s, Jeffries says Black History Month felt very much like, "let's talk about Black people for …

An L.A. Unified teacher on Black History Month: ‘It is a time to love being Black ‘
3 years, 1 month ago

An L.A. Unified teacher on Black History Month: ‘It is a time to love being Black ‘

LA Times  

To the editor: Black History Month is a time for pride, reflection and goal setting. Black History Month is a time to research, explore and appreciate our culture and our heritage as Black people. As a teacher and coach at Dorsey High in the Los Angeles Unified School District, I think of Black History Month as a time to study …

Cancel Black History Month
3 years, 1 month ago

Cancel Black History Month

Huff Post  

Black History Month is already off to a great start. But in 50 years, if Black History Month still exists, the same type of people will be quoting Biden’s first Black woman Supreme Court nominee, I guarantee it. If, as Dr. Cornel West coined it, Martin Luther King Jr. has been “Santa Claus-ified,” then Black History Month has become Christmas. …

Black History Month 2021: When is it, how did it start and how is it commemorated?
3 years, 5 months ago

Black History Month 2021: When is it, how did it start and how is it commemorated?

The Independent  

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about …

18 ways to honor Black History Month around L.A.
4 years, 1 month ago

18 ways to honor Black History Month around L.A.

LA Times  

A look at the many activities happening — mostly virtually — for Black History Month in and around Los Angeles. Other online events include the opening ceremony on Feb. 4 highlighting the history of Santa Monica’s Black community, author Catherine Adel West reading and discussing her debut novel “Saving Ruby King,” on Feb. 11; a discussion on Feb. 16 about …

Black History Month: All You Need to Know About the Historic Movement in the US
4 years, 1 month ago

Black History Month: All You Need to Know About the Historic Movement in the US

News 18  

February marks the Black History Month in the United States, a country that has a deep-rooted history of enslavement and racial injustice. This year, the Black History Month comes more under the spotlight after the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests that took place in 2020. In 1976, when the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak, President Gerald Ford expanded …

We’ve never had a Black History Month like this before (Opinion)
6 years ago

We’ve never had a Black History Month like this before (Opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Peniel Joseph is the Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values and the founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is also a professor of history. In a country where Barack Obama was President, public discourse …

Why this year’s Black History Month is pivotal (opinion)
6 years, 1 month ago

Why this year’s Black History Month is pivotal (opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Peniel Joseph is the Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values and the founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is also a professor of history. Each February, Black History Month subverts conventional narratives of American …

We Built This: Eunique Jones Gibson Is Approaching History The Carter G. Woodson Way
6 years, 1 month ago

We Built This: Eunique Jones Gibson Is Approaching History The Carter G. Woodson Way

Huff Post  

Because of Eunique Jones Gibson, black kids can dream, imagine, and aspire to be whatever they want to be. It’s the reason why we’ve gone back to the kids when it comes to the subscription boxes and trying to give kids a way to actually touch and feel history beyond Black History Month. Everyone can consume it, but this is …

Beyoncé's Black History Month Collage Teaches Us A Powerful Lesson
6 years, 1 month ago

Beyoncé's Black History Month Collage Teaches Us A Powerful Lesson

Huff Post  

beyonce.com Beyoncé remains the queen of poignant Black History Month moments. A caption on Beyoncé’s website includes the full list of who’s who in the collage: Pictured: Angie Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Aurielle Marie, Brandan “B-Mike” Odums, Brittany Packnett, Bryant Terry, Dara Cooper, Deray McKesson, Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, Dr. Jessica Clemons, Glory Edim, Hannah Beachler, Iddris Sandu, Jackie Aina, James Baldwin, …

Let’s Fix Black History Month
6 years, 1 month ago

Let’s Fix Black History Month

Slate  

In 2014, Aisha Harris proposed some ways to make the annual tradition of Black History Month more meaningful. Apologies for being a downer, but one of the reasons Black History Month exists in the first place is because black Americans have long been a marginalized group. Angela Davis has put it well: Black History Month should be a time to …

Let This February Be A Reminder That Black History Built This
6 years, 1 month ago

Let This February Be A Reminder That Black History Built This

Huff Post  

The way that America approaches Black History Month is grossly limiting. Carter G. Woodson didn’t create Negro History Week in 1926, which became Black History Month 40 years later, for our stories to be watered down and fictionalized by way of revisionist history. This is why, this February, HuffPost Black Voices is reminding y’all that Black History Built This. All …

Historian and author Jeff Biggers: "Resistance is the quintessential American story"
6 years, 6 months ago

Historian and author Jeff Biggers: "Resistance is the quintessential American story"

Salon  

Donald Trump continues his assault on American democracy and the rule of law. Has the much vaunted and discussed "Resistance" movement against Trump's presidency already fizzled out, overwhelmed by his unshakable base of support among his followers and the relative indifference of too many other Americans? Given Donald Trump and the Republican Party's undermining of American democracy, assault on the …

How To Celebrate Black History With Your Kids All Year Round
7 years ago

How To Celebrate Black History With Your Kids All Year Round

Huff Post  

Ji Sub Jeong/HuffPost Getty Images Black History Month is a great time to celebrate the achievements of black Americans throughout U.S. history, and the black lives making history today. “If you’re a white parent in America who wants to know how to have an impactful role in the deconstruction of white supremacy as it is now, celebrate Black History Month,” …

Is it time to revisit Black History Month? (opinion)
7 years, 1 month ago

Is it time to revisit Black History Month? (opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Kerra L. Bolton is the founder of Unmuted Consulting, a strategic political communications consultancy and online academy that helps individuals, communities and organizations spark and drive change. Kerra Bolton Scott Brown Meanwhile, observing Black History Month in American public schools has usually meant glossing over the brutal reality of slavery and Jim Crow in favor of nonviolent and …

This Black History Month, We Celebrate The Glory Within Us
7 years, 1 month ago

This Black History Month, We Celebrate The Glory Within Us

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING There’s something uniquely glorious about blackness. I’ve always known this, especially growing up with parents who emphasized this by reading Maya Angelou poems at bedtime and sent me to an elementary school where we learned black history year round. That’s why the theme for this Black History Month at HuffPost Black Voices is #BlackGlory. In addition to …

Celebrating Black History Month: the men and women blazing a trail in STEM and modern culture
8 years, 1 month ago

Celebrating Black History Month: the men and women blazing a trail in STEM and modern culture

Wired  

Black History Month is an annual celebration of the men, women and important events in the history of African Diaspora. Josh Berger, chair of the BFI, told the Guardian: “He is one of the most influential and important British artists of the past 25 years and his work, both short and long-form, has consistently explored the endurance of humanity - …

Things to know about Black History Month
8 years, 1 month ago

Things to know about Black History Month

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Like his predecessors, President Donald Trump plans to commemorate Black History Month with an official proclamation, a gala and receptions at the White House to celebrate the contributions of the United States’ black citizens. It was Carter G. Woodson, a founder of the Association for the Study of African American History, who first came up with the idea …

Black History Month: An American story you weren’t told
8 years, 1 month ago

Black History Month: An American story you weren’t told

Al Jazeera  

‘The history of African Americans, which is to say the history of America, is a pendulum of resilience and retaliation.’ To mark Black History Month, Al Jazeera is showcasing some of our best stories on race and identity. Read the complete story here – Know your history: Understanding racism in the US Black History Month and the uses of the …

This Black History Month, We Declare: 'We, Too, Are America'
8 years, 1 month ago

This Black History Month, We Declare: 'We, Too, Are America'

Huff Post  

Illustration: Ji Sub Jeong/HuffPost; Photos: Getty February marks the launch of Black History Month, a time to recognize the central role and revolutionary work of black people in America. However, this year, Black History Month, a time meant to celebrate and embrace inclusion, also descends at a shameful moment in American history. With four words at the end of the …

TV preview, Black and British: A Forgotten History (BBC1, Wednesday 9pm): tales both fascinating and enjoyable
8 years, 4 months ago

TV preview, Black and British: A Forgotten History (BBC1, Wednesday 9pm): tales both fascinating and enjoyable

The Independent  

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy To be honest, and to my shame, I had no taken …

Do we need a Black History Month?
9 years, 1 month ago

Do we need a Black History Month?

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Nayaba Arinde is the editor of Amsterdam News, one of the oldest black-owned publications in the United States, and is an activist and radio commentator in England and in the U.S. Story highlights Nayaba Arinde: It would be absurd for black people to seek validation for the month from white people, but whites should pay attention How ironic …

Learn Black History to Change the Future
9 years, 1 month ago

Learn Black History to Change the Future

Huff Post  

This article was originally published in the Daily Aztec on February 24th, 2015 and has been republished here with the author's permission. If the events of Ferguson are a testament to the racial injustices still evident in American society, then the deaths of six black youths at the hands of white police since Michael Brown's death should tell us another …

Alice Walker's Facebook Page Will Give You All The Black History You Need
9 years, 1 month ago

Alice Walker's Facebook Page Will Give You All The Black History You Need

Huff Post  

Alice Walker joined Facebook last week and has since posted a steady stream of some pretty incredible material. Alice Walker's Pultizer Prize-winning novel "The Color Purple" was released in 1982 and was later adapted into a film and musical. In fact, she said there was a point in time when she thought Black History Month seemed like the "ultimate segregation," …

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