Black History Month

In 1929, The Journal of Negro History noted that, with only two exceptions, officials with the state departments of education of "every state with considerable Negro population" had made the event known to that state's teachers and distributed official literature associated with the event. Churches also played a significant role in the distribution of literature in association with Negro History Week during this initial period, with the mainstream and Black press aiding in the publicity effort.

Negro History Week grew in popularity throughout the following decades, with mayors across the United States endorsing it as a holiday.

Observance by region

United States

thumb|Black History Month on the [[USS Carl Vinson|USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) deployed in February 2015 in the 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria. Photo removed online by the Trump administration in 2025.|left]]

In the United States, Black History Month is commemorated during the month of February. Since its inception, the Black community met the creation of Black History Month with enthusiastic response; it prompted the creation of Black history clubs, an increase in interest among teachers, and interest from progressive whites. For example, "Black Health and Wellness" in 2022 focused on medical scholars, health care providers, and health outcomes. The Wall Street Journal describes Black History Month as "a time when the culture and contributions of African Americans take center stage" in a variety of cultural institutions, including theaters, libraries, and museums.

Black History Month has garnered attention from the U.S. business community. In 2018, Instagram created its first Black History Month program with the help of its Head of Global Music & Youth Culture Communications, SHAVONE. Instagram's Black History Month program featured a series of first-time initiatives, including a #BlackGirlMagic partnership with Spotify and the launch of the #CelebrateBlackCreatives program, which reached more than 19 million followers. In February 2020, many American corporations commemorated Black History Month, including The Coca-Cola Company, Google, Target Corporation, Macy's, United Parcel Service and Under Armour.

On February 18, 2016, 106-year Washington, D.C., resident and school volunteer Virginia McLaurin visited the White House as part of Black History Month. When asked by President Barack Obama why she was there, McLaurin said: "A Black president. A Black wife. And I'm here to celebrate Black history. That's what I'm here for."

In 2025, the Defense Intelligence Agency cancelled internal celebrations of Black History Month and other "special observances" due to the second Trump administration's efforts to stop diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. However, at the start of February, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation honoring National Black History Month. One year later on February 18, Trump hosted a celebration for the 100th anniversary of Black History Month at the White House, to varying responses across media outlets. The event followed backlash over a racist video he posted on Truth Social which depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as primates.

United Kingdom

thumb|1822 handbill advertising a Black boxing tutor in [[Alnwick, Northumberland; tweeted by Northumberland Archives as part of Black History Month in 2020|left]]

In the United Kingdom, Black History Month was first celebrated in October 1987 The year of 1987, recognized as the African Jubilee, was coincidentally the year of the 150th anniversary of Caribbean emancipation, the centenary of the birth of Marcus Garvey and the 25th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity, an institution dedicated to advancing the progress of African states. Black History Month in the UK was organised through the leadership of Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who had served as a coordinator of special projects for the Greater London Council (GLC) and created a collaboration to get it underway. The first Black History Month celebration in the UK was held in London on October 1, 1987, when Dr. Maulana Karenga from the US was invited to an event by the Greater London Council about Black people's contributions to history.

Some institutions have faced criticism for supporting Black History Month with images of people from British Asian backgrounds, using the term "black" to refer to political blackness encompassing all people of color.

Germany

In Berlin, Germany, in 1990, members of the Black German community began observing Black History Month. Programs have included discussions of black Europeans, international African perspectives, the history of civil rights in the U.S., and apartheid in South Africa.

Canada

In 1995, after a motion by politician Jean Augustine, representing the riding of Etobicoke—Lakeshore in Ontario, Canada's House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month () and honored Black Canadians. In 2008, Senator Donald Oliver moved to have the Senate officially recognize Black History Month, which was unanimously approved.

Canada defines the festivity as an opportunity to celebrate "the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities who … have done so much to make Canada a culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous country".

Jamaica

In Jamaica, Black History Month is observed during the month of February, which had been informally adopted by the mid-1990s. Special attention is given to this period as February also marks Reggae Month, It has been a time to acknowledge and honour the achievements and inventions of black figures throughout history, and to reflect on liberation, past racial adversity and struggles. During this period, locals especially reflect on and pay homage to the contributions of prominent African American civil rights activists, and Jamaican activists and pioneers who have been impactful internationally and nationally— such as Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Harry Belafonte, Ferdinand Smith, John Brown Russwurm, and others. Reggae's role in global social and political activism against apartheid, oppression and inequality, has amplified the significance of Black History Month on the island. Since January 9, 2008, February has been officially declared as Reggae Month, which also celebrates the genre's musical, cultural and economic contributions to the development of the island.

France

In France, at the initiative of Karfa Diallo's association, the Black History Month was first organized in 2018 in Bordeaux. Since then, there have been celebrations in Paris, Le Havre, Guadeloupe, La Rochelle and Bayonne. In 2022 the month was dedicated to Josephine Baker, a dancer and member of the French Resistance during World War II born in the United States.

Africa

In 2020, Black History Month was celebrated in seven African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ivory Coast, Comoros, Senegal and Cameroon) for the first time. The event was initiated by the organisation Africa Mondo founded by Mélina Seymour. Starting in 2021, an African History Month was celebrated in March.

Developments

When first established, Black History Month resulted in some controversy. Those who believed that Black History Month was limited to educational institutions questioned whether it was appropriate to confine the celebration of Black history to one month, as opposed to the integration of Black history into mainstream education for the whole year.

Another concern was that, contrary to the original inspiration for Black History Month, which was a desire to redress how American schools failed to represent Black historical figures as anything other than enslaved people or colonial subjects, Black History Month could reduce complex historical figures to overly simplified objects of "hero worship".

Other critics refer to the celebration as a form of racism. Actor and director Morgan Freeman and actress Stacey Dash have criticized the concept of declaring only one month as Black History Month. Freeman noted, "I don't want a Black history month. Black history is American history."

In February 2025, Google announced that Black History Month would no longer be highlighted by default on Google Calendar, arguing that it was no longer "scalable or sustainable" to continue adding the growing number of national and international "cultural moments" manually to its calendars.

Themes

In the US, a theme for each Black History Month is selected by the ASALH:

1928: Civilization: A World Achievement
1929: Possibility of Putting Negro History in the Curriculum
1930: Significant Achievements of the Negro
1931: Neglected Aspects of Negro History
1932: What George Washington Bicentennial Commission Fail to Do
1933: Ethiopia Meets Error in Truth
1934: Contribution of the Negro in Poetry, in Painting, in Sculpture and in Science
1935: The Negro Achievements in Africa
1936: African Background Outlined
1937: American Negro History from the Time of Importation from Africa up to the Present Day
1938: Special Achievements of the Race: Oratory, Drama, Music, Painting, Sculpture, Science and Inventions
1939: Special Achievements of the Race: Religion, Education, Business, Architecture, Engineering, Innovation, Pioneering
1940: Negro Labor
1941: The Career of Frederick Douglass
1942: The Negro in Democracy
1943: The Negro in the Modern World
1944: The Negro and the New Order
1945: The Negro and Reconversion
1946: Let us Have Peace
1947: Democracy Possible only Through Brotherhood
1948: The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
1949: The Use of Spirituals in the Classroom
1950: Outstanding Moments in Negro History
1951: Eminent Negroes in World Affairs
1952: Great Negro Educators (Teachers)
1953: Negro History and Human Relations
1954: Negro History: A Foundation for Integration
1955: Negro History: A Contribution to America's Intercultural Life
1956: Negro History in an Era of Changing Human Relations
1957: Negro History
1958: Negro History: A Factor in Nationalism and Internationalism
1959: Negro History: A Foundation for a Proud America
1960: Strengthening America Through Education in Negro History and African Culture
1961: Freedom and Democracy for the Negro after 100 years (1861–1961)
1962: Negro History and a New Birth of Freedom
1963: Negro History Evaluates Emancipation (1863–1963)
1964: Negro History: A Basis for the New Freedom
1965: Negro History: Freedom's Foundation
1966: Freedom from Racial Myths and Stereotypes Through Negro History
1967: Negro History in the Home, School, and the Community
1968: The Centennial of the Fourteenth Amendment Afro American History Week
1969: Changing the Afro American Image through History
1970: 15th Amendment and Black America in the Century (1870–1970)
1971: African Civilization and Culture: A Worthy Historical Background
1972: African Art, Music, Literature; a Valuable Cultural Experience
1973: Biography Illuminates the Black Experience
1974: Helping America Understand
1975: Fulfilling America's Promise: Black History Month
1976: America for All Americans
1977: Heritage Days: The Black Perspective; the Third Century
1978: Roots, Achievements and Projections
1979: History: Torch for the future
1980: Heritage for America
1981: Black History: Role Model for Youth
1982: Afro American Survival
1983: Afro Americans in the United States
1984: Afro Americans and Education
1985: Afro American Family
1986: Afro American Experience: International Connection
1987: Afro Americans and the Constitution from Colonial Times to the Present
1988: Constitutional Status of Afro Americans in the 21st Century
1989: Afro Americans and Religion
1990: Seventy-Five Years of Scholarly Excellence: A Homage to Our Forebearers
1991: Educating America: Black Universities and Colleges, Strengths and Crisis
1992: African Roots Experience New Worlds, Pre-Columbus to Space Exploration
1993: Afro-American Scholars: Leaders, Activists and Writers
1994: Empowering Black Americans
1995: Reflections on 1895: Douglass, Du Bois & Washington
1996: Black Women
1997: African Americans and Civil Rights; a Reprisal
1998: Black Business
1999: Legacy of African American Leadership for the Present and the Future
2000: Heritage and Horizons: The African American Legacy and the Challenges for the 21st Century
2001: Creating and Defining the African American Community: Family, Church Politics and Culture
2002: The Color Line Revisited: Is Racism Dead?
2003: The Souls of Black Folks: Centennial Reflections
2004: Before Brown, Beyond Boundaries: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education
2005: The Niagara Movement: Black Protest Reborn, 1905–2005
2006: Celebrating Community: A Tribute to Black Fraternal, Social, and Civil Institutions
2007: From Slavery to Freedom: Africans in the Americas
2008: Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism
2009: The Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas
2010: The History of Black Economic Empowerment
2011: African Americans and the Civil War
2012: Black Women in American Culture and History
2012: President Barack Obama National Black History Month Proclamation
2013: At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington
2014: Civil Rights in America
2015: A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture
2016: Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories
2017: The Crisis in Black Education
2018: African Americans in Times of War
2019: Black Migrations
2020: African Americans and the Vote
2021: The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity
2022: Black Health and Wellness
2023: Black Resistance
2024: African Americans and the Arts
2025: African Americans and Labor
2026: A Century of Black History Commemorations

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Footnotes

External links

Library of Congress Black History Month Website
Official UK Black History Month Website
Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada Black History Month website
Carter Woodson's life is retold in the 1950 radio drama "Recorder of History – Dr. Carter G. Woodson", a presentation from Destination Freedom, written by Richard Durham