Here’s why Black History Month is celebrated in February
Black History Month is celebrated in February to commemorate the rich history and achievements of African-Americans.
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There’s a little more than a week left in Black History Month 2025.
Where did the time go?
It doesn’t help that the U.S. observation is in a month with only 28 days.
Why is Black History Month celebrated in the shortest month of the year? It’s not a conspiracy to shortchange Black Americans in days of celebrating. Here’s how it got its start.
Who started Black History Month?
The observation began in the United States and has spread globally.
It has its roots in Negro History Week, which began in 1926, a creation of Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History he founded with the focus of encouraging the teaching of the history of Black Americans in public schools.
Woodson chose the second week in February for the observance to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist and civil rights leader Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14) and U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12).
From a week to Black History Month
Negro History Week grew as municipalities began to recognize it and it moved beyond the classrooms, to theaters libraries and museums.
Then organizations began to stretch their commemorations of important people and events in African-American history over the month.
Educators and students at Kent State University first celebrated Black History Month in 1970.
President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month in 1976, encouraging Americans to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Black History Month in other countries
Although started in the U.S., Black History Month has gone global.
Some other countries though observe it in the fall.
Black History Month removed from Google Calendar
Black History Month is no longer highlighted on Google Calendar.
Google in 2025 said Black History Month is no longer highlighted by default on Google Calendar, saying it was no longer “scalable or sustainable” to continue adding the growing number of national and international “cultural moments” manually to its calendars. Indigenous People Month, Jewish Heritage, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Hispanic Heritage have also been removed.
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.