Every February, we celebrate Black History Month by recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of our Black and African American community. Before there was a month, there was 鈥淣egro History Week,鈥� established in 1926 by U.S. historian Carter G. Woodson who became known as the 鈥渇ather of Black History.鈥� Woodson envisioned a weeklong celebration to encourage the coordinated teaching of Black history in public schools (). By the 1960s, this weeklong celebration evolved into a month-long celebration and in 1976, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month during the country's 1976 bicentennial. February was chosen primarily because the second week of the month coincides with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Lincoln was influential in the emancipation of slaves and Douglass was a former slave and a prominent leader in the abolitionist movement (). The Association for the Study of African American Life & History (ASALH) establishes a theme for Black History Month each year, a tradition initiated by Woodson. The theme for 2024 is 鈥淎frican Americans & the Arts.鈥� Read more about this year鈥檚 theme on the听.听