Back to Main Menu

Black History Month

2026 | A Century Of Century Of Black History Commemorations

 2026, we mark 100 years of national Black history commemorations. This legacy began in 1915, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson and fellow scholars founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) to ensure the teaching, study, and preservation of Black history.

In 1925, Dr. Woodson launched Negro History Week—an effort that would grow into today’s Black History Month. What began as a single week became a lasting cultural tradition, shaping how Black history is understood in the United States and around the world. This centennial theme invites us to reflect on how commemorating Black history has transformed the lives, visibility, and status of Black people globally.

Long before Negro History Week, people of African descent honored key moments in the fight for freedom and equality—from emancipation celebrations like Watch Night and Juneteenth to recognizing figures such as Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. These traditions reflected a deep understanding that knowing one’s history is essential to shaping the future.

Dr. Woodson formalized this tradition by creating a sustained, national observance rooted in historical scholarship. Through annual themes and educational resources, he helped change how Black people saw themselves—and how the world saw them. His work laid the foundation for Black History Month as a permanent part of American culture.

Following his death, the Association (now ASALH) continued this mission. In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford formally recognized Black History Month, and in 1986 Congress designated February as its official observance. Today, Black History Month is celebrated in schools, museums, libraries, workplaces, faith communities, and homes across the nation and around the world.

As we also approach the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, this moment calls for an honest and inclusive understanding of history. At a time when Black history faces challenges through censorship and exclusion, commemorations remain vital—not simply for their place in American history, but for their meaning and power in the lives of Black people themselves

- Association for the Study of African American Life and History