Honoring the Visionary: Carter G. Woodson & the Birth of Black History Month
February is here, and with it, Black History Month. This isn’t just a calendar event; it’s a powerful reminder of resilience, brilliance, and the courage to claim space in history when it was denied. At the heart of it all is one extraordinary scholar: Dr. Carter G. Woodson, known today as the “Father of African American History.”
Born in December 19, 1875 to formerly enslaved parents, Woodson faced immense barriers. After his parents escaped slavery and moved to West Virginia, he worked on the family farm and later in coal mines to support his family. Largely self taught with months of help from his two uncles, he mastered many school subjects by age 17. At 20, he finally entered high school and earned his diploma in less than two years. His drive carried him to a bachelor’s degree from Berea College, a master’s from the University of Chicago, and making history as the second African American in history to earn a PhD from Harvard University (following W.E.B. Du Bois).
Woodson saw a glaring problem: mainstream history books and education ignored, overlooked, or suppressed the contributions of Black Americans. Even as a dues paying member, he was barred from conferences of the American Historical Association. Rather than accept exclusion, he built his own platform. In 1915, he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now ASALH) in Chicago to promote rigorous, scientific study of African American life. The following year, he launched the Journal of Negro History (today the Journal of African American History), which continues to shape scholarship.
Black History in the Making
His boldest step came in 1926. From his home in Washington, D.C.—now the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site—he launched Negro History Week during the second week of February. Why February? It bookends the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14), dates already celebrated in Black communities for their ties to emancipation and abolition. Woodson’s goal was clear: to spotlight the collective achievements of African Americans, foster pride in heritage, and educate all Americans about contributions too often erased.
That single week grew into the nationwide Black History Month we know today. In 1976, during the Bicentennial celebration of the United States, President Gerald Ford issued the first official proclamation recognizing Black History Week. That same year ASALH expanded the observance to the full month, and Woodson’s legacy endures. He authored influential works like The Negro in Our History (1922) and believed studying Black History should be a year round pursuit, not a temporary nod.
Honoring Black History Today
This February, let’s honor Dr. Woodson’s vision together. Attend an event, explore a resource, join a conversation, or simply reflect on the stories that shape Black History. Black History is American History. What will you discover this Black History Month?
February: 100 Years of Black History Month!
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month—founded by Carter G. Woodson in 1926—Rosemont College's Campus Ministry has spotlighted inspiring Black trailblazers each week with dedicated slides on the TV screen in the Sharon Latchaw Hirsh Community Center lobby, complemented by engaging articles on our website. Join us in honoring Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights icon and hope-keeper; Ryan Coogler, the visionary filmmaker behind cultural blockbusters; Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician who revolutionized GPS; and Carter G. Woodson, the "Father of Black History." Learn more in the Cultural Heritage Gallery.
