Black History Month: History, Purpose, and Global Celebration

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Black History Month is an annual observance that originated in the United States, also known as African-American History Month to remembering important figures and crucial events in African-American history.

Originally, Black History Month aimed to educate students and young people about the contributions of Black and African Americans, whose stories are often forgotten and overlooked in the national narrative.

Today, the celebration is seen as a tribute to those who have made a significant impact not only on the country but also on the world through their activism and achievements.

The origins of Black History Month date back to 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) declared the second week of February "Negro History Week."

Woodson founded the organization in 1915 after realizing the lack of information about the achievements of African Americans.

The choice of the second week of February for "Negro History Week" coincides with the birthdays of two important figures in American history: Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and Frederick Douglass on February 14.

President Abraham Lincoln is known for his role in the Emancipation Proclamation, while Frederick Douglass was an influential African-American orator and abolitionist.

Black History Month is a time to recognize the lived, shared experience of all Black folks who have fundamentally shaped, challenged, and ultimately strengthened America. It’s about taking an unvarnished look at the past so that we can create a better future. As we mark 100 years… pic.twitter.com/WLZ5EpHK1K

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 1, 2026

Over the next fifty years, "Negro History Week" grew in popularity, with various cities across the United States starting to hold their own celebrations of Black achievement.

The civil rights movement also contributed to its rise in popularity.

By the late 1960s, the celebration was being celebrated by mayors across the country and had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses.

Black History Month was first proposed by Black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969.

The first Black History Month celebrations took place at Kent State from January 2 to February 28, 1970.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month during the United States' bicentennial celebrations.

He urged Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often overlooked achievements of Black Americans in every field of endeavor throughout our history."

This recognition was reinforced in 1986 when the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 99-244, officially designating February as Black History Month.

Black History Month is celebrated around the world at different times and with different focuses. In the United States and Canada, it takes place in February.

In Canada, MP Jean Augustine introduced a motion for Black History Month in 1995 to raise awareness of the work of Black Canadians.

The City of Toronto first proclaimed Black History Month in 1979, followed by the Province of Ontario in 1993.

The theme for Black History Month 2026 in Canada is: "30 Years of Black History Month: Honoring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Future Visionaries."

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Black History Month is celebrated in October.

The UK first celebrated Black History Month in October 1987, organized through the leadership of Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo.

Originally focused on African-American history, celebrations in the UK now place a greater emphasis on Black British history.

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), an organization founded by Carter G. Woodson, sets annual themes for Black History Month.

These themes reflect the changing dynamics in how people of African descent in the United States perceive themselves, the influence of social movements on racial ideologies, and the aspirations of the Black community.

For example, the 2022 theme is "Black Health and Wellness," which focuses on medical scholars, healthcare providers, and health outcomes in the Black community.

Black History Month is celebrated through various events in schools, universities, museums, and communities.