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Black History Month is here!

We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate and dedicate the entire month of February to black history.

Follow along as Sheen Magazine shares black history facts throughout the entire month! Every day, we will share little-known facts, celebrate those who played made their mark in history, and historic moments and events throughout our nation.

Black History Month

Each year we dedicate the entire month of February to celebrate the black history in our country, but it’s important to know the Black History Month’s origin in order to celebrate it the right way.

During February of each year, we celebrate the history and achievements of African Americans but the story begins in 1915. Join us in remembering why we devote this month to celebrate black history!

Half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment that abolished slavery in our country was passed is where it all began. Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson and minister, Jesse E. Moorland founded ASNLH (Association for the Study of Negro Life and History).

The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History was created to research and promote the achievements of black Americans and those of African descent. Today the group is known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Back then, the group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, they chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Because of this inspirational event, schools and communities around the nation began organizing their own celebrations, establishing history clubs, and more!

Over the next couple of decades, mayors of cities in the United States began issuing yearly proclamations to recognize Negro History Week.

It wasn’t until the late 1960s, Negro History evolved into Black History Month on the campuses of colleges around the nation.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month! He called the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Did you know? Since President Gerald Ford established February as Black History Month, every American president has endorsed a theme. Black History Month 2019’s theme is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity.”

The Association for the Study of African America Life and History states that the theme “emphasizes the movement of people of African descent to new destinations and subsequently to new social realities.”

 

All information obtained from History