Black History Month is observed each February to honor the history and achievements of African Americans. It was proposed in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson as "Negro History Week", later expanded to a month. The second week of February was chosen to commemorate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Black History Month highlights influential figures like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., inventors Elijah McCoy and Garrett Morgan, scientists Daniel Hale Williams and Mae Jemison, and athletes Jesse Owens and Hank Aaron.

1. Black History Month

2. Introduction
• Black History Month is observed each February &
celebrates achievements of African Americans.
• In February 1926, a man by the name of Dr. Carter
G. Woodson proposed the establishment of "Negro
History Week" to honor the history and
contributions of African Americans to American life.
Dr. Carter G.
Woodson

3. Overview
• Dr. Woodson, known as the "Father of Black
History", chose the second week of February
because it commemorates the birthdays of two men
who greatly affected the African American
community: Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and
Frederick Douglass (February 14). Negro History
Week became Black History Week in the early
1970's. In 1976, the week-long observance was
expanded to a month in honor of the nation's
bicentennial.
Abraham LincolnFredrick Douglas

4. Abolitionists
• Frederick Douglass escaped
from slavery and spoke
around the country and
Europe about the evils of
slavery.
• Harriet Tubman escaped
slavery and then went back
South to help many slaves
escape to freedom on the
Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman
Frederick Douglass

5. EMANCIPATION PRCLAMATION
President Abraham Lincoln issued
the Emancipation Proclamation on
January 1, 1863, as the nation
approached its third year of bloody civil
war. The proclamation declared "that
all persons held as slaves" within the
rebellious states "are, and
henceforward shall be free."

6. Civil Rights Leaders
• Rosa Parks is called the “Mother of
the Civil Rights Movement”. One
day after working hard at her job,
she was riding the bus home.
There were laws that black people
couldn’t sit where they wanted on
the bus – they had to sit in the
back. The bus driver asked her to
give up her seat so a white man
could sit down. Rosa said “no” and
was taken to jail.

7. Civil Rights Leaders
• Martin Luther King was a Baptist
preacher in Montgomery, Alabama.
He led a boycott of the city bus
system and this led to the civil rights
movement. He dedicated his life to
achieving equality and justice for all
Americans of all colors. King
believed that peaceful protest was
the best way to bring about social
change. Martin Luther King was
assassinated in 1968.
Martin Luther King

8. Inventors
• Elijah McCoy invented a device for oiling
steam engines in 1872. The term “the
real McCoy” is believed to be a reference
about the reliability of Elijah McCoy’s
invention.
• Garrett Augustus Morgan invented the
first stop light. He sold his invention to
General Electric Company. He also
invented the gas mask that solders in
WWI used.
Elijah McCoy
Garrett Morgan

9. Scientists
Mae Jemison
• Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
performed the first open heart
surgery in 1893.
• Dr. Mae Jemison was the first
black woman in space in 1992.
She traveled in the spaceship
Endeavor.
Daniel Hale Williams

10. • Hank Aaron is a famous
baseball player. In 1974,
he beat Babe Ruth’s home
run record of 715 home
runs. Hank held the
record for 755 home runs
for over 30 years.
• The Braves' jersey Hank
Aaron wore when he
broke Babe Ruth's career
home run record in 1974
Athletes

11. Athletes
• Jesse Owens was a track and field
athlete. He represented the USA at
the 1936 Olympic Games held in
Nazi Germany. Owens won four
gold medals and set a world record
in the long jump. Hitler left the
stadium to avoid having to
congratulate an African-American. Jesse Owens

12. Conclusion
• Black History Month is a time to remember our past
and celebrate the many achievements of African-
Americans!