February Is Black History Month
February 23, 2023
At CoolSys, we celebrate the diversity of our employees and our customers every day. In February, our focus has been on Black History Month as we recognize achievements and contributions by African Americans to the history of our country.
Inspiring a Nation
The story of Black History Month begins in 1915. Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. The organization is now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
ASNLH sponsored a national Negro History Week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The event inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs and host performances and lectures.
By the late 1960s, thanks in part to the civil rights movement and a growing awareness of Black identity, Negro History Week had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses. President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976.
Contributions in Every Area of Society
Today, Black History Month honors the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society — from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and beyond.
To learn more about Black History Month:
- Check out this video on the origins of Black History Month from Mike Hines, a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education.
- NPR shares the story behind Black History Month and why it’s celebrated in February.
- Delve into the deeper story about Dr. Carter G. Woodson and his efforts to bring Black history into the mainstream.
- Take a look at Black history facts and stories about prominent African Americans.