Black History Month | History, Theme, & Quotes

Black History Month happens every year in the United States. It’s also called African-American History Month. This special month honors the important contributions of African Americans in American history. We recognize people like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Mae Jemison, and Barack Obama for their great achievements in fighting for equal rights, serving on the Supreme Court, exploring space, and becoming the first African-American President of the United States.

The United States and Canada officially acknowledge Black History Month, and recently, people in Ireland and the United Kingdom have started observing it too. It all started as a way to remember important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. In the United States and Canada, Black History Month is celebrated every year in February, while in Ireland and the United Kingdom, it happens in October.

Black History Month | History, Theme, & Quotes

Black History Month

Black History Month aims to highlight the significant contributions of African Americans to the United States. It pays tribute to Black individuals throughout U.S. history, from those who were brought as slaves from Africa in the 17th century to present-day African Americans.

During Black History Month, we recognize prominent figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who advocated for equal rights in the 1950s and ’60s; Thurgood Marshall, appointed as the first African-American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967; Mae Jemison, the first female African-American astronaut to journey into space in 1992; and Barack Obama, elected as the first African-American President of the United States in 2008.

Black History Origin

In 1915, faced with a lack of accessible information about the achievements of Black individuals, historian Carter G. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In 1926, the group established “Negro History Week” in the second week of February to acknowledge African American contributions to U.S. history. This initiative addressed the limited study of Black history, often omitted from textbooks. The chosen week coincided with the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln, who led during the Civil War, primarily fought over Black enslavement.

Many schools and leaders started recognizing this week. In 1976, it officially evolved into Black History Month, expanded by President Gerald Ford to honor the often overlooked accomplishments of Black Americans throughout U.S. history. Since then, Black History Month has been celebrated in the United States every February.

History of Black History Month

In 1915, to address the lack of information on Black achievements, historian Carter G. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. By 1926, the group designated the second week of February as “Negro History Week” to recognize African American contributions to U.S. history, marking a crucial shift in acknowledging Black accomplishments. The week coincides with the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln, a key figure during the Civil War.

In 1976, U.S. president Gerald Ford officially expanded the week to Black History Month, aiming to honor the often-overlooked achievements of Black Americans across various fields. Since then, the United States has celebrated Black History Month every February, fostering awareness and appreciation for the profound impact of Black individuals throughout American history.

Black History Month 2024 Theme

Since 1976, each American president has officially recognized February as Black History Month and embraced a particular theme. The theme for Black History Month in 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts,” delving into the significant impact that African Americans have made in various artistic realms, including visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary arts, and other forms of cultural expression.

Black History Month Quotes

1. “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
2. “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou
3. “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” – Thurgood Marshall
4. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
5. “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” – Booker T. Washington
6. “The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.” – W.E.B. Du Bois
7. “You are your best thing.” – Toni Morrison
8. “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” – Langston Hughes
9. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
10. “Change is never easy, but always possible.” – Barack Obama
11. “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather, we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle (Quoted by Maya Angelou in “Letter to My Daughter”)
12. “The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
13. “Freedom is never given; it is won.” – A. Philip Randolph
14. “I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up.” – Rosa Parks
15. “You really can change the world if you care enough.” – Marian Wright Edelman
16. “Success is not about climbing up the ladder, it’s about how many people you can bring up with you.” – Angela Davis
17. “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa
18. “The function of freedom is to free someone else.” – Toni Morrison
19. “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” – Marcus Garvey
20. “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglass

Black History Month FAQs

What is Black History Month?

Ans. Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, is a special month dedicated to celebrating the history and accomplishments of African Americans. This annual celebration occurs throughout February in the United States.

When is Black History Month?

Ans. Black History Month is celebrated every year during the month of February in the United States.

When was Black History Month first celebrated?

Ans. Black History Month was first celebrated in 1976.