Celebrated in February, Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, is an annual celebration of the achievements of Black Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.
The month originated in 1926 as “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Woodson, the son of former slaves, believed that Black history was largely ignored in mainstream education and that celebrating the contributions of Black Americans would help to combat racism and prejudice.
The history of the achievements of Black Americans is vast and diverse, and the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) has printed several publications highlighting those triumphs, such as their role in Congress.
Black Americans in Congress, 1870-2022, features the important history-making members elected to Federal office since 1870. This resource provides the most comprehensive history available on the 175 Black lawmakers who’ve served on Capitol Hill—from Senator Hiram R. Revels of Mississippi and Representative Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina in 1870 to the first-term Members of the 117th Congress (2021–2023).
Here are some ways to celebrate Black History Month:
- Learn about the history of Black Americans. There are many resources are available online and in libraries, including books, articles, documentaries, and museum exhibits.
- Support Black businesses and organizations.
- Attend a Black history event or celebration.
- Read books and watch movies about Black history and culture.
- Donate to organizations that support Black communities.
- Talk to your friends and family about the importance of Black history.
By learning about and celebrating Black history, we can all help to create a more just and equitable society.
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Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.
About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publications and Information Sales Office.
Images and additional content provided by Government Book Talk Editor Trudy Hawkins. Trudy is the Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).
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