Black History Month 2026: Honoring the Founders, Empowering the Future

February has always been a time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the stories that shape our collective identity. But this year’s Black History Month holds historic significance. This year marks 100 years since Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched what was originally known as Negro History Week - a deliberate effort to ensure Black history was recognized, preserved, and taught in a society that often excluded it from mainstream narratives.

What began in 1926 as a focused act of educational resistance has grown into a century-long, national commitment to honoring Black excellence, resilience, and contribution.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Birth of Black History Month

Often referred to as the Father of Black History, Dr. Carter G. Woodson was a historian, scholar, and visionary who understood that history is deeply tied to identity and empowerment. Through the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASALH), Woodson created Negro History Week to counter the widespread omission of Black contributions from American education.

Woodson intentionally chose February to align with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln - figures already honored within Black communities. His goal was not simply celebration, but education as liberation, believing that understanding one’s history builds confidence, self-worth, and collective strength.

As awareness and participation grew, Negro History Week expanded beyond classrooms and into churches, families, and community organizations nationwide. By the 1960s and early 1970s, the observance had organically grown well beyond a single week. In 1976, during the United States Bicentennial, the federal government officially recognized the expanded observance as Black History Month, acknowledging that Black history could not, and should not, be confined to seven days.

This recognition affirmed what Black communities had long known: Black history is foundational to American history.

The 2026 Theme: “The Founders of Black History Month”

The 2026 Black History Month theme, “The Founders of Black History Month,” honors not only Dr. Woodson, but also the educators, scholars, organizers, and communities who sustained this work across generations. These founders ensured that Black history remained visible, relevant, and deeply rooted in education and culture.

AI Image depicting a Black family's cultural celebration and historical reflection for Black History Month 2026

As noted by ASALH, this centennial year is both a celebration and a call to deepen our engagement with Black history. Not as a moment in time, but as an ongoing responsibility.

Black history is not confined to the past. It lives in our present realities and informs our future possibilities. It shapes how young people see themselves, how families pass down values, and how communities define resilience and leadership. When Black history is honored, individuals gain a sense of belonging, pride, and purpose.

At Village-Connect, we recognize historical awareness as a form of wellness. Understanding lineage and legacy supports emotional grounding, cultural identity, and intergenerational healing. When people know where they come from, they are better equipped to navigate where they are going.

The centennial of Black History Month invites reflection and action. It challenges us to ask how we are preserving stories, supporting education, and creating environments where truth and history are honored. Every conversation with our children, every act of mentorship, and every community initiative becomes part of this living legacy.

At Village-Connect, our commitment to youth empowerment, family wellness, and culturally grounded frameworks reflects the same values Dr. Woodson championed a century ago - education, identity, and collective uplift.

Black History Month is not only about remembrance. It’s about responsibility. As we honor the founders who laid the groundwork for this movement, we also recommit to carrying it forward with intention, integrity, and care.

This February, we invite you to reflect deeply, learn intentionally, and engage meaningfully. Because when history is honored, futures are strengthened.

👉 Learn more about our mission and community-centered work at www.Village-Connect.org