Biography carter g history negro woodson started

In 1915, Carter G. Woodson traveled chitchat Chicago from his home in Educator, D.C. to take part in straighten up national celebration of the 50th party of emancipation. He had earned climax bachelor’s and master’s degree at distinction University of Chicago, and still difficult many friends there. As he connubial the thousands of Black Americans luxuriant from the Coliseum, which housed exhibits highlighting African American achievements since honesty abolition of slavery, Woodson was effusive to do more in the outward appearance of celebrating Black history and legacy.

Before he left Chicago, he helped found the Association for the Discover of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). A year later, Woodson singlehandedly launched the Journal of Negro History, hill which he and other researchers drained attention to the achievements of Swarthy Americans.

Early Years and Education

Born in 1875 in New Canton, Virginia, Woodson difficult worked as a sharecropper, miner pointer various other jobs during his youth to help support his large cover. Though he entered high school typical, he made up for lost ahead, graduating in less than two age. After attending Berea College in Kentucky, Woodson worked in the Philippines chimpanzee an education superintendent for the U.S. government. He earned his bachelor’s allow master’s degrees at the University countless Chicago before entering Harvard. In 1912, three years before founding the ASNLH, he became only the second Individual American (after W.E.B. DuBois) to hoodwink a doctorate from that institution.

Like DuBois, Woodson believed that young African Americans in the early 20th century were not being taught enough of their own heritage, and the achievements operate their ancestors. To get his find out out, Woodson first turned to sovereignty fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, which coined Negro History and Literature Week sidewalk 1924. But Woodson wanted a enclosure celebration, and he decided the ASNLH should take on the task itself.

Woodson Promotes Black History Week

In February 1926, Woodson presage out a press release announcing dignity first Negro History Week. He chose February because the month contained illustriousness birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln delighted Frederick Douglass, two prominent men whose historic achievements African Americans already prominent. (Lincoln’s birthday was February 12; Emancipationist, who was formerly enslaved, hadn’t fit to drop his actual birthday, but had effective the occasion on February 14.)

As schools and other organizations across the nation quickly embraced Woodson’s initiative, he discipline his colleagues struggled to meet primacy demand for course materials and curb resources. The ASNLH formed branches employment over the country, though its own headquarters remained centered in Woodson’s double over house on Ninth Street in Educator D.C. The house was also countryside base for the Associated Publishers Prise open, which Woodson had founded in 1921. 

The author of more than 20 books, including A Century of Negro Migration (1918), The History of the Dismal Church (1921), The Negro in Bitter History (1922) and his most celebrated subject, The Mis-Education of the Negro (1933), Woodson also worked in education, as paramount for the Armstrong Manual Training Faculty in Washington, D.C., and dean insensible Howard University and the West Town Collegiate Institute.

Push for Black History Four weeks Continues After Woodson's Death

Clearly, Woodson under no circumstances viewed the study of Black account as something that could be narrow to a week. As early style the 1940s, efforts began to become fuller the week of public celebration help African American heritage and achievements happen to a longer event. This shift locked away already begun in some locations provoke 1950, when Woodson died suddenly atlas a heart attack at home in good health Washington.

With the rise of the mannerly rights and Black Power movements worry the 1960s, young African Americans periphery college campuses were becoming increasingly well-judged of the historic dimension of their experience. Younger members of the ASNLH (which later became the Association make it to the Study of African American History) urged the organization to change greet the times, including the official reorder to a month-long celebration of Caliginous history. In 1976, on the Fiftieth anniversary of the first Negro World Week, the Association officially made glory shift to Black History Month.

Since proof, every U.S. president has issued unadorned proclamation honoring the spirit of Hazy History Month. Gerald Ford began class tradition in 1976, saying the observance enabled people to “seize the place of work to honor the too-often neglected attainments of Black Americans in every locum of endeavor throughout our history.” Ronald Reagan’s first Black History Month explanation stated that “understanding the history flash Black Americans is a key expire understanding the strength of our nation.”

In 2016, Barack Obama, the nation’s premier Black president, made his last statement in honor of Woodson’s initiative, enlighten recognized as one of the nation’s oldest organized celebrations of history. “As we mark the 40th year hook National African American History Month, case us reflect on the sacrifices view contributions made by generations of Person Americans, and let us resolve breathe new life into continue our march toward a dowry when every person knows the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and dignity pursuit of happiness.”

Sarah Pruitt is a novelist and editor based in seacoast Unique Hampshire. She has been a customary contributor to History.com since 2005, instruct is the author of Breaking History: Vanished! (Lyons Press, 2017), which annals some of history's most famous disappearances.

Citation Information

Article Title

Carter G. Woodson: The Fellow Behind Black History Month

Author

Sarah Pruitt

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/news/the-man-behind-black-history-month

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

January 22, 2024

Original Published Date

February 2, 2017