African American History Month  

Image Citation:

"Carter G. Woodson." Photograph. African American History Month Profiles. Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.

Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, called for the first organized celebration of African American history in 1925. In 1926, the first Negro History Week became a reality, and was celebrated during the week in February containing the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. This proved to be extremely successful, bringing about the creation of black history clubs and demands for classroom material. When Woodson died in 1950, the celebration he championed had become an important aspect of African American life. The Civil Rights movement of the 1960s brought more focus on the history and contributions of African Americans. In 1976 the celebration was expanded to a month and each president began making a yearly proclamation. Now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Woodson’s organization continues to promote the study of African American history year round.