Black History Month

Black History Month (BHM)—also known as National African American History Month—is an annual celebration of the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans. It serves as a time to honor the central role of African Americans in shaping U.S. history and culture.

The celebration traces its origins to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, or ASALH). In 1926, Dr. Woodson launched Negro History Week during the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Fifty years later, in 1976, every U.S. president officially recognized February as Black History Month.

At Sonoma State University, Black History Month programs and events are a collaborative effort among students, staff, faculty, and members of the local community. Together, we celebrate the past, honor the present, and envision a future rooted in equity, justice, and joy.

For more information about the national observance, visit the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

“If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”
— Dr. Carter G. Woodson