Since 1976, leading up to America’s Bi-Centennial Anniversary, President Gerald Ford proclaimed February as Black History Month when he urged all Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Prior to that, from 1926-1975, February was known as Negro History Week, founded by historian and scholar, Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Woodson, who was the founder of the Association for the Study and of Afro-American Life and History, has been known by many historians as ‘The Father of Black History Month,’ designated the second week in February to coincide with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas to highlight the contributions African-Americans have made to this country.

Woodson came up with the concept, Negro History Week, later evolved to Black History Month, since he felt that American society as a whole was not appreciating the contributions that African-Americans made throughout the history of the United States dating back to the times of the Columbian Exchange, when Christopher Columbus made contact with the western hemisphere for better or for worse.

The first instance of Black History Month being a month-long affair was in 1970 when Kent State University (KSU) in Ohio celebrated Black History from Jan 2 to Feb 28 of that year and was organized by African-American educators in Ohio as well as students, faculty and staff at KSU. Since then, a great number of educational institutions, including schools, museums and libraries, celebrated February as a month-long affair.