The celebration of Black History Month, also known as African American Heritage Month, honors African American achievements throughout history and recognizes their significant contribution to our country. African American Heritage Month traces its origins to "Negro History Week," created by Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African-Americans in 1926.
The first President to proclaim February as Black History Month was Gerald Ford in 1976, and every President since then has celebrated it annually. Many countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom, celebrate Black history in February.
The 2024 theme for Black History Month is African Americans and the Arts. The theme recognizes that black artists have historically used art to preserve history and community memory, as well as for empowerment. For more information about this year's theme, visit https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/ .
We are privileged to have the Banneker Douglass Museum in our county. The museum is dedicated to preserving Maryland's African American heritage and is the state's official repository of African American material culture. Their exhibitions can be found here: https://bdmuseum.maryland.gov/events/ .