Each year, the US celebrates dozens of month-long observations including Women’s History Month in March, Jewish American Heritage Month in May and National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Every February, Black History Month turns a spotlight toward countless Black figures who’ve influenced society, as well as the issues they faced which continue to impact the population of 51 million Black Americans today. Here are three things to know:
1: Black History Month is 100 years old
February’s designation as Black History Month has been formally recognized across the United States for 50 years. In 1976, during the United States Bicentennial, President Gerald Ford was the first president to declare the month was a way to honor what he called, “the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
However, its foundation of awareness and attention traces back to 1926 when historian and journalist Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched and popularized Negro History Week. Woodson chose the second week in February in order to capture the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, Feb. 12, and Frederick Douglass, Feb. 14 — both men being crucially influential to Black history. The week was acknowledged for decades somewhat informally from city to city, with Ford ultimately issuing the first presidential message to recognize the entire month.
2: It’s for education, activity, community
Schools use February as a chance to dive into age-appropriate lessons regarding Black history, culture, contributions, and key personalities. Whether it’s elementary schools teaching about George Washington Carver’s peanut-based innovations or high schoolers learning about the hard-fought Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, educators take the opportunity to explore topics more in-depth than general lesson plans otherwise accommodate.
The month-long acknowledgment isn’t limited to school settings. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History — the organization founded by Woodson in 1915 — suggests reading books written by Black authors, watching films and documentaries created by Black filmmakers, supporting local Black-owned businesses, learning about important Black leaders, and attending or organizing educational events. The ASALH also points out that the recognition and research doesn’t need to be limited to the 28-day month.
3: Each year has a theme
While Black History Month is often used to reflect on notable people and their work in general, every year is technically given a specific theme determined by the ASALH. Dating back to the initial conception in 1926, Woodson believed that focusing on specific concepts could be potentially more beneficial than working in broad strokes. As listed on their main website, ASALH.org, the theme for 2026 is, appropriately, “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”
In a statement posted on their site, the ASALH explained, “We have never had more need to examine the role of Black History Month than we do when forces weary of democracy seek to use legislative means and book bans to excise Black history from America’s schools and public culture.” They continued succinctly, “Black history’s value is not its contribution to mainstream historical narratives, but its resonance in the lives of Black people.”
