This year's Black History Month theme highlights the transformative role of Black labor in shaping the United States. From the agricultural labor of enslaved Africans to the struggles of organized labor, the month commemorates the contributions of Black Americans across various fields.
February 1st marks the beginning of Black History Month in the United States. This recognition dates back to 1926, when Carter G. Woodson , a founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), established Negro History Week. The initiative aimed to cultivate a deeper interest in Black history and heritage among Black Americans. Every year, the ASALH selects a new theme to guide the month's observances.
This year's theme focuses on the profound connection between labor and the experiences of African Americans in the United States. According to the ASALH, the theme explores the multifaceted ways work has shaped Black lives throughout American history. The organization plans to dedicate the month, and the year beyond, to examining the pivotal role of Black labor in building the nation, encompassing both industrial and community contributions. 'Whether it's the traditional agricultural labor of enslaved Africans that sustained Low Country colonies, debates among Black educators on the significance of vocational training, self-help strategies and entrepreneurship within Black communities, or organized labor's struggle against economic and social injustice, Black people's work has been transformative across the U.S., Africa, and the Diaspora,' states the ASALH website. Woodson, born in 1875 to formerly enslaved Virginians, earned a Ph.D. in history from Harvard University. He expressed concern in the early 20th century that Black children were not receiving adequate education about their ancestors' achievements in American schools. Woodson believed passionately that Black individuals should be proud of their heritage, and that all Americans should recognize the often-overlooked contributions of Black Americans. Initially, Negro History Week was intended to spark a greater interest in Black history and heritage among Black Americans. Established in 1926, Woodson chose February to coincide with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln, born on February 12th, and Frederick Douglass, a former slave who celebrated his birthday on February 14th. The first Negro History Week was announced in February 1926. Several locations, including West Virginia in the 1940s and Chicago in the 1960s, expanded the celebration into Negro History Month. The Civil Rights and Black Power movements advocated for an official shift from Black History Week to Black History Month. In 1976, marking the 50th anniversary of the first celebration, the ASALH officially transitioned from a week-long observance to a month-long celebration, and from 'Negro history' to 'Black history.' Since the mid-1970s, every U.S. president, both Democrat and Republican, has issued proclamations recognizing the significance of Black History Month and endorsing the organization's annual theme.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH LABOR AFRICAN AMERICANS CARTER G. WOODSON ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT BLACK POWER MOVEMENT PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN FREDERICK DOUGLASS
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