92 years of black history celebrations

* Corbis THE EVOLUTION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH En español | The annual tradition of paying tribute to black history in the United States began in the second week of February 1926

in Washington, D.C. Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom also hold their own commemorations. Here’s how it all started. 1 of 11 * Corbis WEEKLONG COMMEMORATION Recognizing the

accomplishments of African Americans began in 1926 with Negro History Week, a commemoration launched by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and

History. 2 of 11 * The Library of Virginia FOCUS ON PUBLIC EDUCATION The weeklong effort was intended to encourage coordinated teaching of black history among public school systems. It

enjoyed cooperation from education departments in North Carolina, Delaware and West Virginia, as well as the school administrations of Baltimore and Washington. 3 of 11 * Corbis WHY

FEBRUARY? Woodson chose the second week of February to coincide with and pay homage to the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (1809) and Frederick Douglass (1818).  He credited the two for

bringing an end to slavery in America. 4 of 11 * Kent State University FROM A WEEK TO A MONTH In 1969, the Black United Students at Kent State University in Ohio proposed expanding the

celebration to a month. The university agreed to do so the following year. 5 of 11 * AP U.S. MAKES IT OFFICIAL With support from President Gerald Ford (pictured here with First Lady Betty

Ford and Medal of Freedom recipient, Jesse Owens), the federal government officially recognized Black History Month in conjunction with the 1976 U.S. bicentennial celebration. 6 of 11 *

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DIGNITY AND PURPOSE. 7 of 11 * Alamy PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION Every successive president has followed Ford’s lead, including Barack Obama, who made history as the first African American

president. 8 of 11 * National Film Board of Canada CANADA JOINS IN Canadian railroad porters who traveled through the United States were the first to bring back the idea of celebrating black

history. By 1950, unofficial observances began in Toronto. By 1979, the Ontario Black History Society petitioned the Toronto city government to proclaim February as Black History Month; the

Parliament of Canada made it official in 1995. 9 of 11 * Alamy CELEBRATIONS IN EUROPE The United Kingdom began celebrating Black History Month in 1987 to salute the contributions of Africa

and African people. October was selected because of its importance to the African calendar, the equinox and harvest. London was the first British city to recognize the commemoration. The

Initiative of Black People in Germany began celebrations in 1990. 10 of 11 * VIEW MORE SLIDESHOWS * A SALUTE TO 10 TOP HBCUS * AN ACT OF PROTEST: ROSA PARKS IN HER OWN WORDS * CIVIL RIGHTS

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