LERN Celebrates Black History Month

In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, with the help of other notable African Americans, established “Negro History Week” to preserve African American history and celebrate the accomplishments of Blacks in America. He chose the second week of February to pay homage to Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln, who were both born during the month. Prior to this inaugural public recognition, Black achievements and contributions were excluded in recounts of important historical events in the United States.

In 1976, fifty years after the first “Negro History Week”, President Gerald Ford officially recognized the entire month of February as Black History Month and encouraged all U.S. citizens to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

During this month of awareness, LERN recognizes the life and struggles of Black Americans, and celebrates the amazing achievements of Black activists, educators, artists, doctors, inventors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, politicians, and so many more! The contributions of these courageous individuals, though often erased from history, have considerably influenced our nation not just during this month, but every month.

Today, there is still a significant absence of Black history throughout textbooks and educational resources. Beyond the next 28 days, we challenge all those committed to education and lifelong learning to be intentional in teaching and integrating Black history into our nation’s storytelling.

Black history is American history.

“What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.” – Dr. Carter G. Woodson