Black History Month Celebrates 100 Years of Preserving and Uplifting Black Stories

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This year marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, which began in 1926 as Negro History Week. Established by historian Carter G. Woodson to challenge the erasure of Black history in education, the commemoration has grown in scope over the decades, becoming a national observance in 1976. However, Black history is now facing new threats, with efforts to censor how race and systemic racism are discussed in classrooms. As the centennial approaches, there is a call to make Black history teaching more expansive, accessible, and integrated into the broader curriculum year-round.

Why it matters

Protecting and uplifting Black history is essential to understanding the full story of America and challenging revisionist efforts to minimize the contributions and experiences of Black Americans. As Black history faces new threats of censorship and erasure, the 100-year milestone of Black History Month serves as a critical reminder of the need to defend this history and ensure it is taught accurately and comprehensively.

The details

Black History Month traces its origins to 1926, when historian Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week to counter the exclusion of Black history from American education. Woodson, the son of formerly enslaved parents, recognized that this absence was not accidental but rather the result of a system designed to marginalize Black communities. In the decades that followed, the observance expanded from a week to a full month, reflecting both progress and ongoing tensions, as Black history gained national visibility but also risked being treated as a standalone add-on rather than as central to the American story.

• Black History Month was established in 1926 as Negro History Week by historian Carter G. Woodson.
• In the 1960s and 1970s, amid the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, educators and students pushed for broader recognition of Black history.
• In 1976, the U.S. officially designated February as Black History Month, with President Gerald Ford recognizing the observance.

What’s next

As the 100th anniversary of Black History Month approaches, there are calls for expanding how Black history is taught and preserved, including through digital archives, community-led storytelling, and integrating Black experiences into the broader curriculum year-round.