Celebrating February as African American History Month

Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, initially as "Negro History Week." In 1976, it was extended to a month-long celebration known as "Black History Month." The celebration provides the opportunity to emphasize the history and achievements of African Americans.

The celebration of African American History Month, and more importantly, the study of black history, is credited to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born to parents who were former slaves, he spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines and enrolled in high school at age twenty. He graduated within two years and later went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. The scholar was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population-and when blacks did figure into the picture, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position they were assigned at the time.

Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Each year, the San Diego Unified School District recognizes February as African American History Month. District staff are encouraged to mark the event as best matches the needs of their school and community.