HSU Celebrates Black History Month

Black History Month reminds us to take the time to celebrate the achievements of African Americans and recognize their central role in the country’s narrative, past, present, and future.

The creation of Black History Month is credited to historian and scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson. In 1919, wanting to create a space to showcase Black history, culture, and impact, Woodson created an organization called the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. In 1926, Woodson and his organization launched Negro History Week in the second week of February. The dates were chosen to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 20) and the week was intended to celebrate Black stories and accomplishments.

The first Negro History Week was a success and quickly turned into a yearly tradition. This week-long celebration was expanded into a month of observation in 1976 under President Gerald Ford. Now, every February, we celebrate Black History Month.

Be sure to check in throughout the month as we share stories and the campus hosts events to celebrate Black History Month!