The beginning of Black History month goes all the way back to 1915, half a century after the thirteenth amendment abolished slavery in the United States. Harvard trained historian, Carter G. Woodson and Minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, ASNLH, in September of 1915.

This organization was dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by black Americans and people of African descent. In 1926, this group sponsored a national Negro History week. They chose the second week of February to coincide with Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass birthdays.

This inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs, and host performances and lectures. The decades that followed, mayors of cities across the country began issuing yearly proclamations recognizing Negro History Week.

It was not until the late 1970s that it turned into Black History month on many college campuses. President Gerald R. Ford, officially brought recognition to Black History month to the civil Rights movement and awareness to black identity. Since then every American president recognized February as black history month and endorsed a specific theme. After many years and decades, African Americans were finally honored for their too-often neglected accomplishments.