African American History Month

Dr. Carter G. Woodson—an African American author and scholar—created "Negro History Week" in 1926 to remind all Americans of their ethnic roots and to foster a spirit of togetherness in the United States. Dr. Woodson chose February for this event based on its symbolic nature—both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were born in February. This celebration of African American achievement and heritage evolved into a month-long observance known as "Black History Month" in 1976.

This Web site provides four presentations and one-week lesson plans—featuring people and events important to African American history—for teachers to use during the month of February. Each PowerPoint^® presentation can be downloaded and tailored to meet your students' specific needs. Corresponding student activities have been provided in PDF format for you to assess your students' understanding of the content.