The Father of Black History - #BlackHistoryFact

Have you ever wondered where the idea of Black History Month came from? Black History Month was the idea of Dr. Carter G. Woodson (December 19, 1875 - April 3, 1950).  In 1926, Dr. Woodson created the celebration of "Negro History Week", for the second week in February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas.  This week of celebration for black history was later extended to the full month of February and renamed Black History Month.  Dr. Woodson noted that African American contributions "were overlooked, ignored, and even suppressed by the writers of history textbooks and the teachers who use them." 

Dr. Carter G. Woodson, along with William Hartgrove, Cleveland Hall, Alexander L. Jackson and James E. Stamp, founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Because of his devotion to the history of black people, Dr. Woodson is also known as the Father of Black History.