Black History Month

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For the song, see Black History Month (song).

Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in the month of February, while in the UK it is held in the month of October.

The remembrance was originated in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as "Negro History Week". Woodson chose the second week of February because it marked the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the lives and social condition of African Americans: former President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

1 Purpose
2 Controversy
3 See also
4 External links
5 References

Purpose

When the tradition of Black History Month was started in the US, many in mainstream academia had barely begun to explore black history. At that point, most representation of blacks in history books was only in reference to the low social position they held as slaves and their descendants, with the exception of George Washington Carver. Black History Month can also be referred to as African-American History Month, or African Heritage Month. W.E.B. DuBois' 1935 work "Black Reconstruction" was an early work in history that pointed to black contributions.

In the United Kingdom (UK), Black History Month is celebrated in the month of October. The official guide to Black History Month in the UK is published by Sugar Media, Ltd., which produces 100,000 copies nationwide.^[1]

Part of the aim of Black History Month is to recognize significant contributions to society made by people with African heritage and how their history is integral to mainstream narratives. It demonstrates how all peoples contribute to a culture.

Controversy

NoI preacher in 1998, in England.

Black History Month sparks an annual debate about the continued usefulness and fairness of a designated month dedicated to the history of one race. Critical op-ed pieces have appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer [1] and USA Today [2].

Some African American radical/nationalist groups, including the Nation of Islam, have criticized Black History Month. Other critics^[who?] contend that Black History Month is irrelevant because it has degenerated into a shallow ritual.^[2] Some, like Morgan Freeman, say that it serves to undermine the contention that black history is American history.^{[citation needed]}

Woodson hoped that the remembrance would eventually be eliminated, when African-American history would be fully integrated with American history.