Every February, Americans celebrate Black History Month. This tribute dates back to 1926 and is credited to a Harvard scholar named Carter G. Woodson. The son of former slaves, Woodson dedicated his life to ensuring that black history was accurately documented and disseminated.

In an effort to bring national attention to the contributions of black Americans, Woodson organized the first annual Negro History Week in 1926. He chose the second week of February in honor of the birthdays of pivotal black supporters Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

From Jackie Robinson to Oprah Winfrey, Harriet Tubman to Martin Luther King Jr., Black History Month pays tribute to inspirational African Americans from the past, as well as those who will continue to make history well into the future.

People

• Barack Obama - the 44th President of the United States, the first African American to hold the office.

• W.E.B. Du Bois - Scholar and political activist who helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

CCPS Instructional Resource Guide for Black History Month

Local History

Social Studies - The History of Black Economic Empowerment - 2012 Instructional Packet