WHAT is it ?

Black History Month is celebrated every year in some countries to help people remember about the African diaspora, slavery, the fight for equal rights, and the contribution of the black communities to their country.

 

WHERE and WHEN does it take place ?

In the USA, before the Black History Month celebration was started in February 1970, there was the celebration of the “Negro History Week” which first took place in February 1926. It was an initiative of historian Carter G. Woodson, who chose the month of February because Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was on the 12th February, and Frederick Douglass’s birthday was on the 14th.

In the United Kingdom, Black History Month is celebrated in October, and this celebration started in 1987, in London.

In Canada, Black History Month is in February as well, and its celebration started in 1990, to honor Black Canadian.

In the Republic of Ireland, Black History Month was started in 2010 in Cork, as many associations in this city were leading an abolition movement in the 19th century.

 

WHY is it important ?

Black History Month is an occasion to remember, to honor, to discuss and to acknowledge the past of Black people, the African diaspora, essentially caused by the slave trade, and the fight to abolish slavery and to obtain equal rights for Black people in the USA and in the UK. It is important for young people to learn about their past, it is also important for the citizens of a country to know about the past of their country.

 

HOW can it be celebrated ?

There are dedicated exhibitions in museums, conferences, documentaries to watch on television, movies, series… You can can do a research and learn about the historical characters who helped our world to change.

Here, on our blog, we have posted a few articles on the subject. You can find them with the tags “Black History Month” and “BHM”.