Roundtable: Black History Month

About Black History Month

Black History Month originated in the United States to acknowledge and remember important people and events of the African diaspora.

In the United States it began as a week in February to correspond with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln [February 12] and Frederick Douglass [February 14].

Black History Month was proposed by black educators in 1969. The first celebration of Black History Month occurred at Kent State in 1970.

In 1976, to coincide with the United States Bicentennial, President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.

Throughout February, WABCradio will be celebrating Black History Month.