Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History established Negro History Week in 1926, celebrating important dates like Abraham Lincoln's and Fredrick Douglas's birthdays. In 1969, the Black United Students Organization at Kent University extended it to Black History Month. President Gerald Ford recognized this in 1976. Throughout the 1980s, various Black student and cultural organizations successfully petitioned governors and mayors to officially recognize February as Black History Month and integrate African American history into public school curriculums.

1. THE ORIGIN OF BLACK
HISTORY MONTH
Celebrating the History of African Americans
By Mr. Errol Bedford

2. CARTER G. WOODSON
In 1926 Mr. Woodson
and the Association for
the Study of Negro Life
and History announced
the formation of Negro
History Week

3. February 12th
Abraham Lincoln
NEGRO HISTORY WEEK
February 14th
Fredrick Douglas

4. BLACK UNITED
STUDENTS
ORGANIZATION FROM
KENT UNIVERSITY
In 1969 in conjunction with
the Panamerican/Panafrican
Association the BUS
promulgated extending Negro
History Week to Black
History Month. The BUS was
the first organization to
celebrate Black History
Month in 1970.

5. PRESIDENT GERALD FORD
In 1976 during the U.S.
Bicentennial, President Ford
recognized the expansion of
Negro History Week to Black
History Month by urging
Americans to “seize the
opportunity to honor the too often
neglected accomplishments of
Black Americans in every area of
endeavor throughout our history”

6. THE MINORITY
CULTURAL SOCIETY
From 1980 to 1983, The MCS from
LeMoyne College in Syracuse, NY
organized a consortium of Black
Student Unions from colleges
throughout New York State to
push for the recognition of
February as “Black History
Month”

7. BLACK HISTORY MONTH
In 1982, Black leaders throughout the country
petitioned the Governors and Mayors of U.S.
states and cities to sign “Proclamations”
recognizing Black History Month and the
contributions made by African Americans in the
United States

8. BLACK HISTORY MONTH
In 1983, The Panamerican/Panafrican Association and Black
Leaders from New York State successfully petitioned then New
York State Governor Mario Cuomo and Syracuse Mayor Lee
Alexander to sign official proclamations recognizing February
as Black History Month and in turn mandate that the New York
State Department of Education integrate the history of African
Americans in the curriculum for all public schools. They were
the first governor and mayor in the United States to do so.

9. BLACK HISTORY MONTH