How Black History Month Started

“Black History Month is in the shortest month of the year, and the coldest—just in case we want to have a parade."

- Chris Rock, comedian

Did you know that Black History Month used to be only one week? Contrary to popular belief, it was not chosen in February because it is the shortest month of the calendar year.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an American author and historian, is known as the "father of Black history." He was the first to introduce Black studies to academics and made popular in schools and colleges across the country. Throughout his career, Woodson wrote a number of books on African American subjects because felt African American history had been misrepresented and dismissed in academia. One important work was, "The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861," which was written by Woodson and Alexander L. Jackson.