Black History Month: Awesome Ways to Celebrate
Celebrate with events, knowledge and more this Black History Month!
February sure has a lot of celebrations. From Groundhog Day to Valentine’s Day, there’s always something going on. February is also Black History Month — a time to celebrate and get a better understanding of prominent Black figures throughout history and celebrate Black culture.
There are many ways you can celebrate Black History Month. The city offers a multitude of events such as the Marine Park Black History Month: Textile Arts Workshop or the celebration with the historically iconic Delta Sigma Theta but there are also many ways to celebrate at home, too. Ahead, we break down the history of the celebrated month, along with fun ways you can celebrate!
Psst…Check out Black History Month 2025: Great Events in NYC and the Tri-State Area
What Is Black History Month?
According to History.com, Black History Month is a period dedicated to celebrating and recognizing the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” which was created by historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.
Black History Month was technically born in 1915, just half a century after slavery was abolished in the United States. Woodson and his study partner, minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent.
The two picked the second week of February to sponsor Negro History Week, which would celebrate the accomplishments of African-Americans and also correlate with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Federick Douglass, a prominent abolitionist. 38th United States President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Since the declaration of the celebratory month, every President has designated a theme. For 2025, it is African Americans and Labor, which examines the way that all kinds of work, skilled and unskilled, from the past (by free and enslaved people) and present, contribute to the Black experience.
Prominent Black History Month Figures
A large part of Black History Month is honoring those in the African-American community who have made significant contributions to society. While it’s hard to name everybody, here are a few that are typically honored during the celebratory month.
Frederick Douglass
Known as the most important leader in the civil rights movement, Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery in Maryland and became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York.
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was known for starting The Underground Railroad, a metaphoric route that would help enslaved African-Americans escape to the North. Tubman risked her life daily to help her people and is still remembered in history today. Tubman saved 70 enslaved people, including her family and friends, using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Known for his iconic ‘I Have A Dream’ speech, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as the face of the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s. The famous speech, still quoted today, spoke of King’s dream to live in a version of the United States where segregation and racism did not exist.
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks made history when she refused to give up her seat on a bus. Back in her time, Black people were often forced to ride in the back of the bus and give up their seats to their white counterparts. Parks refusal to move on a frigid December day in 1955 led to the Montgomery bus boycott and challenged segregation in Alabama.
Ways to Celebrate
From celebrations at the iconic Apollo Theatre in Harlem to local events, there are so many ways to celebrate. You can also visit historical sites in various states such as the DuSable Museum of African American History in Illinois and the Historic Magnolia House Motel in North Carolina. If you prefer to stay inside, you can always watch videos of prominent figures or listen to podcasts about Black History Month. Educate your friends and family about the importance of recognizing African-American contributions to society, and you can always volunteer at local Black advocacy and civil rights groups.
Psst…Check out The Sweetest Valentine’s Day Mocktails & Recipes for Kids
