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May 22, 2013
Marc H. Morial

We Were Right (So Says the Census): Hidden Swing Voters Tipped the Scales in 2012

President and CEO, National Urban League

There is no doubt that the opportunity to re-elect America's first black president contributed to record black turnout last year. But, no matter who is on the ballot in 2014 and 2016, we must continue to exercise our voice. We must continue to exercise our vote.

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This Week in Black History: Meet African American Greats

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What amazing events took place in African American history this week? Click the gallery below to learn more about black culture, history and contributions to American society you may not know. For more amazing information about black history and culture, re-experience Black Voices' Black History Month 2010 package!


The Origins of Black History Month

Carter G. Woodson
was a coal miner and child of former slaves with enthusiasm for the historical documentation of the African-American experience. He decided as a young man that our stories needed to be recognized. After earning a Ph.D. from Harvard University in history, Carter became a Howard University professor. He then co-founded and financed the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915, with the lofty goal of having it both publish and fund research and writing projects about black history. After resigning as a professor, Woodson dedicated all of his time to the association, as well as to publishing books and resources about the black experience. One notable quarterly he edited was The Journal of Negro History, which was distributed worldwide.

In 1926, Woodson established Negro History Week, as it was called by the black fraternity Omega Psi Phi, to celebrate the achievements of Afrian-Americans. Woodson chose the second week of February because it marked the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Through Woodson's promotion of the celebration in The Journal of Negro History, and by creating and distributing educational kits for children, Negro History Week gained in popularity. In 1976, it evolved into Black History Month.

Learn more about the past and current activities of Woodson's organization, now called the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History.

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