The annual celebration grew out of a week-long celebration created by Carter G. Woodson and other prominent Black Americans. $$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$

Celebrating the beginnings of

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”

— Carter G. Woodson, known as the “Father of Black History”

This month, we are exploring the origins of Black History Month, along with revisiting some of the prolific Black playwrights highlighted in our ORIGINS series. Black History Month celebrates the achievements of Black Americans and other people of African descent and recognizes their central role in American history. 

The annual celebration grew out of a week-long celebration created by Carter G. Woodson and other prominent Black Americans. Every U.S. president since 1976 has designated the month of February officially as Black History Month. Other countries, such as the U.K. and Canada, also celebrate Black history during a specifically deliberated month. 

Black History Month originated in 1915 — 50 years after the 13th Amendment was enacted abolishing slavery.  Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian, and Jesse E. Moorland, a prominent minister, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). The organization was dedicated to exploring, celebrating, and promoting the accomplishments by Black Americans and those of African descent. Today, the organization is known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

In 1926, the organization sponsored a national “Negro History Week.” They chose the second week of February to honor the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Schools and communities across the nation were inspired to hold their own celebrations, create history clubs, and organize lectures and performances. 

The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH)
Today, it is known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)

In the years following this first celebratory week in 1926, mayors of cities nationwide would yearly make proclamations to recognize “Negro History Week.”  By the 1960’s, “Negro History Week” had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses. 

In 1976, Black History Month was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford. The American people were encouraged to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” 

Every U.S. president since 1976 has officially designated February as Black History Month with a specifically endorsed theme. 

This year’s theme is “Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity”. It explores the African Diaspora and spread of Black families across America. 

Portions of this article were provided by History.com
 

Learn More About
BLACK HISTORY MONTH:

Read More:
Carter G. Woodson:
The courageous historian who fought to make Black History Month possible

Watch More:
Turner Classic Movies:
Noteworthy African American Performances
 

✨ Next week… ✨

Next week we will revisit and celebrate some of the Black playwrights highlighted in our ORIGINS series and celebrate their prolific work and its impact on American theater.
 Watch previous ORIGINS performances! 

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Actors Co-op Theatre Company, 1760 N. Gower Street, Los Angeles CA 90028 , USA

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