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Black History Month

This guide discusses the importance of celebrating Black History Month and provides resources on the theme of "African Americans and the Arts".

Black History Month

Black History Month is observed annually in February. The purpose of this month is to honor the history and contributions of African Americans to the United States. Black History Month orginates from Negro History Week, which was observed in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson's organization, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History [ASALH]). In 1976, ASALH expanded what was by then called "Black History Week" to Black History Month. In 1986, February was legally declared "National Afro-American History Month" by Congress. Black History Month has been observed under different names since it was established, including "National Afro-American History Month," "National African American History Month," and "African American History Month."

This year's theme for Black History Month is: "African Americans and the Arts".

 

For more information on this year's theme "African Americans and the Arts", visit https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/.

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