We celebrate Black History month during February each year. This celebration is designed to recognize and promote the enormous contribution that individuals of African American descent have made in the history of this country. This celebration was first recognized in 1926 as Negro History Week. At this time black history had just begun to be studied. Dr. Carter Woodson first began to write African Americans into the history books. He established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915 and founded the Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he began the celebration of Negro History Week to bring attention to the contributions of black people to American history.

February was chosen as Black History Month because of the number of events that dramatically affected the black population. The birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas, the passage of the 15th Amendment, and the establishment of the NAACP, and the death of Malcolm X are only a few of these. Education and awareness of the history of African American peoples in this country is crucial to the future development of this country. Only with knowledge can true equality be achieved.

Library Resources

Web Resources

Online Resource List
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/BHM/bh_hotlist.html

Information and activities for the classroom.
http://www.gale.com/free_resources/bhm/index.htm

Educational resources.
http://www.creativefolk.com/blackhistory/blackhistory.html

Lesson plans, activities, books, Materials.
http://www.blackhistory.com/

MLK and Black History Month references
http://www.lib.lsu.edu/hum/mlk/

Activities for MLK Day and links to other holiday celebrations.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/9087/mlk/

Teacher’s guide to MLK: lesson plans, videos, biographies.
http://martinlutherking.8m.com/