Black History Month first started as Negro History Week in February 1926, created by historian Carter G. Woodson. It later expanded into Black History Month in 1976.
Quick timeline
- 1915: Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.
- 1926: The first Negro History Week was observed in February.
- 1976: The observance expanded into Black History Month and was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford.
Why February
Woodson chose February to line up with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two important figures in Black history.
In one line
So, the short answer is: it began in 1926 as Negro History Week, and became Black History Month in 1976.