National African American History Month on February, 2025: What month is Caucasian American Heritage History Month?

February, 2025 is National African American History Month 2025. African american history month‎ 2014 Black History Month Change Makers, Editors, Writers

Sponsored Deals

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Are you kidding?! If we had a white history month, we'd be labeled has racists. It's like in Indy with the Black Expo (a convention that celebrates African Americans in Indy) if we tried to have a white expo we'd also be labeled racist.

who invented black history month?

What we now call "B lack History Month" was originated in 1926 by Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson. In 1926, it was called "N egro History Week."

Carter Woodson attended college where he earned a B.A. degree in European history and a Ph.D. in history. As a new graduate, he managed to earn a living as a high school teacher; and later as a professor of history at Howard University. He had a strong desire to document N egro history. He co-founded and financed the "Association for the Study of N egro Life and History" in 1915.

In 1926, Dr. Woodson was able to offer the Association's name to sponsor the week. He chose the second week in February because it marked the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Through Woodson’s promotion of the celebration in the "Journal of N egro History" and the creation and distribution of kits for children, "N egro History Week" gained in popularity.

In 1976, "N egro History Week" expanded into "B lack History Month." The month is also sometimes referred to as African-American Heritage Month. It is recognized officially in several nations including Canada and the UK, and unofficially in others.

In the U.S., it is recognized officially. In 1975, President Ford issued a Message on the Observance of "B lack History Week" urging all Americans to "recognize the important contribution made to our nation's life and culture by B lack citizens."

In 1976, President Ford issued the first Message on the "Observance of B lack History Month." In subsequent years, Presidents Ford, Carter and Reagan continued to issue Messages honoring "African-American History Month."

In 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-244 which designated February 1986 as "National B lack (Afro-American) History Month.” This law noted that February 1, 1986 would “mark the beginning of the sixtieth annual public and private salute to Black History.” The law further called upon to President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe February 1986 as "B lack History Month" with the appropriate ceremonies and activities. President Reagan issued Presidential Proclamation 5443 which proclaimed that “the foremost purpose of "B lack History Month" is to make all Americans aware of this struggle for freedom and equal opportunity.” This proclamation stated further that this month was a time “to celebrate the many achievements of African Americans in every field from science and the arts to politics and religion."

In January 1996, President Clinton issued Presidential Proclamation 6863 for “National African-American History Month." The proclamation emphasized the theme for that year, the achievements of black women from Sojourner Truth to Mary McLeod Bethune and Toni Morrison. In February 1996, the Senate passed Senate Resolution 229 commemorating "B lack History Month."

Since 1996, the Presidents have issued annual proclamations for "National African-American History Month."

To honor Dr. Woodson, the national theme for 2008 was “Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism.”

For more information, please see:

[Edit: m3aidan, as always, I try to be here with information, not always useless, for you "to stick in your head.":]

why is february both the national heart health month and the black history month? why together?

JFK made February National Heart Month back in 1963, unclear as to why, possibly arbitrary. February is Black History Month because of the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It might be because African Americans have a higher incidence of coronary heart disease?