Since 1976, the month of February has been designated to remember the contributions of people of the African diaspora. The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week." This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and of Frederick Douglass on February 14, dates celebrated by black communities since the late 19th century. Negro History Week was the center of the equation. The thought-process behind the week was never recorded, but scholars acknowledge two reasons for its birth: recognition and importance. Woodson felt deeply that at least one week would allow for the general movement to become something annually celebrated.
UMass Lowell Libguide - Black History and Resources on Racism in the United States
During the month of February, the UMass Lowell (UML) Library will have a Libguide that highlights ebooks, video and films from the library collection, as well as feature Films on Demand on the history of racism in the United States. (View the Black History and Racism resources libguide).
Black History Month Events
- Check back later for the future programs.
Virtual Field Trips
Here are some third party virtual field trips you can take to get some more information about this heritage month!
- Jordan Casteel: Within Reach Exhibit Tour - Denver-born artist Jordan Casteel focused solely on people of color and documented everyone from musicians performing on the streets of her Harlem neighborhood to students she's taught at Rutgers University-Newark. The exhibit features 40 color-saturated oversized portraits that captured daily life through the lens of the black community, with a special focus on individuals who often get overlooked by society in general.
- Juneteenth Virtual tour - The National Museum of African American History offers a virtual tour that helps commemorate Juneteenth and its history.
- Google Arts & Culture: Celebrating African American History and Culture - Google celebrates the history and culture of African American by doing a tour with the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture of their museum.
- Black Fashion Museum Collection - A look at the Black Fashion Museum Collection and Designer Pete Davy presented by Google Arts & Culture at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Google Arts & Culture - Lt. James L. McCullin Jr.: A Memorial to a Fallen Hero - Virtual tour about Tuskegee Airman Lt. James L. McCullin Jr., one of the first African American pilots lost in combat while flying for the United States when his plane disappeared over the coast of Sicily.
- Standing up for Change - National Women's History Museum's exhibit about African American Women and the Civil Rights Movement.