Black History Month is a time to reflect, celebrate, and learn. It began as “Negro History Week” in 1926, founded by historian Carter G. Woodson, who believed that understanding Black history was essential to understanding American history itself. By 1976, it had grown into a month-long celebration recognized across the United States and beyond.

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Throughout history, Black innovators, artists, scientists, and activists have shaped the world we live in, often in ways that go unnoticed. From Madam C. J. Walker, one of America’s first self-made millionaires, to Garrett Morgan, the inventor of the modern traffic light, to Dr. Patricia Bath, a pioneering ophthalmologist who developed laser eye surgery tools, Black excellence has driven innovation and progress in every field.

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But Black History Month is not just about the past. It is also about the present and the future. It is a time to celebrate creativity in today’s music, art, and technology, to recognize the voices leading change in communities, and to reflect on how we can all contribute to equity and understanding.

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Ways to get involved:

• Read or watch something by a Black author or filmmaker.

• Support a local Black-owned business.

• Learn about a figure you have never heard of before.

• Share what you learn so the stories continue to be told.

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Black history is not just a month. It is a living, growing story of courage, creativity, and change.