The CHIEF February 2024

Black History Month was not originally a full month, but just one week. This week was created by Carter G. Woodson after attending the 50th anniversary of emancipation in 1915. This inspired him to help preserve the history of African Americans. He founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), and one year after that he created the Journal of Negro History to showcase the achievements of Black Americans. In February 1926, Woodson sent out a press release that created Black History Week. He chose February because it is Abraham Lincoln’s and Frederick Douglas's birthday month and to honor that they both were prominent civil rights activists in African American history. Woodson died in 1950, but his visions of honor to African Americans lived on through the ASNLH. Younger members of the organization urged the officials to increase the celebration to a whole month. In February of 1986, on the 50th anniversary of the first Negro History Week, the association shifted to the whole month of February. Ever since then, every President has made a proclamation honoring Black History Month. By covering Black History Month in The Chief, I hope that you have learned something new! Where It All Began...Black History Month By: Lauren Russow