Scottsdale Unified School District issued the following announcement on Feb. 1.
In celebration of Black History Month, SUSD students are learning this month about the deep and lasting contributions of African-Americans to our nation’s history.
American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week nearly a century ago. The event was first celebrated during the second week of February, 1926. That particular week was selected because it coincides with the birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and abolitionist activist and author Frederick Douglass (February 14). The week continued to be set aside for the event until 1976, when, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, it was expanded to become a month-long celebration. At that time, President Gerald Ford urged U.S. Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Since then, U.S. presidents have proclaimed each February as National Black History Month.
Original source can be found here.
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