Carter G. Woodson

Carter Godwin Woodson was an American historian, author, and journalist who founded Negro History Week on February 7, 1926—the precursor to Black History Month. Known as the "Father of Black History," Woodson dedicated his life to documenting and celebrating African American contributions to civilization. Born to former slaves in Virginia, Woodson worked in coal mines before pursuing education. He became just the second African American (after W.E.B. Du Bois) to earn a doctorate from Harvard University. In 1915, he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History to promote research and publication of Black history. Woodson believed that history was made by ordinary people, not just prominent figures. He chose February for Negro History Week to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. His vision eventually expanded into Black History Month in 1976, ensuring that African American history would be studied and celebrated nationwide.