After founding the Journal, Woodson decided to go further and start “Negro History Week” in 1926. He timed this for the second week in February, to coincide with the birthdays of both Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, this grew into the Black History Month we now recognize every year.

Why is Black History Month in February? The commemoration of important Black Americans and events happens largely during the shortest month of the year.

During the Black History Month ceremony, which preserved a long-standing and bipartisan White House tradition, Trump omitted any mention of his anti-DEI efforts.