Black History Month, or National African American History Month, occurs every February. It celebrates the achievements by black Americans and recognizes the central role of African Americans in the U.S.
Black History Month originated as Negro History Week. It was conceived by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), the organization he founded. Woodson and the ASNLH hoped to raise awareness of African American contributions to civilization. They began visualizing the idea in 1925 and the first celebration was in February 1926, a week that had the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. They were met with overwhelming positive response. By the mid-20th century, many city mayors across the U.S. issued proclamations celebrating the week.
In 1976, the celebration was expanded to a month. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Since then each American president has issued African American History Month proclamations. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.
The original association that created Negro History Week, now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), continues to promote the study of Black history all year.
The University of Oregon celebrates Black History Month each year with a wide variety of events that celebrate, honor and highlight the work and culture of black Americans.
- Friday, FEBRUARY 2, 2018
Claude Steele "The Science of Diverse Community"
UO African American Workshop & Lecture Series
Law School 175 | Primary Sponsor: Presidents Office
Lunch: 12:00 pm | Lecture: 12:15 pm | RSVP required for Lunch - Thursday, FEBRUARY 8, 2018
Talk and Reception with Sam Bailey of “Brown Girls”
EMU 145 Crater Lake South | Primary Sponsor: Cinema Studies | 4:00 pm
- Thursday FEBRUARY 8, 2018
Pioneering a Living Legacy: Shaping Our
Vision for Diversity and Inclusion in the
Labor MovementViewing of the short film: “Sista in the Brotherhood” followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Roberta Hunte
UO Portland White Stag Building Room 142/144 70 NW Couch Street
Primary Sponsor: Labor Education & Research Center | 6:00 pm - Friday FEBRUARY 9, 2018
8th Annual Black History Month Banquet
Valley River Inn, Eugene | Primary Sponsor: Blacks in Government | 5:30 pm
- Tuesday FEBRUARY 13, 2018
Derrick Bell Lecture: jonathan a. powell
"Looking Up from the Bottom of the Well"Law School 175 | Primary Sponsor: UO Law School | 5:30 pm
- wednesday FEBRUARY 14, 2018
Andre Djiffack: “Teaching in Mongo Beti”
Knight Library Browsing Room | Primary Sponsor: African Studies Lecture Series | 12:00 pm
- THURSDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2018
Marshall (Thurgood Marshall Film)
Redwood Auditorium | Primary Sponsor: Ducks after Dark | 6:00 pm
- Friday FEBRUARY 16, 2018
2018 Freedom Fund Dinner
Valley River Inn, Eugene | Primary Sponsor: Eugene/Springfield NAACP | 6:00 pm
- SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2018
Black Student Union: Excellence Gala
Ford Alumni Center | Primary Sponsor: Black Student Union | 6:00 pm
- Wesnesday FEBRUARY 21, 2018
Bill Fletcher: “Race & Labor: Building a More Just Economy”
Straub Hall 145 | Primary Sponsor: Labor Education & Research Center | 4:00 pm
- THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Stanley Wolukau-Wanambwa: “Scenes from ‘One Wall a Web’”
Lawrence Hall 177 | Primary Sponsor: Department of Art | 6:00 pm
- FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2018
“Don’t Touch my Hair” Opening Reception Exhibit
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art | Primary Sponsor: Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art | 4:00 pm
- FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2018
“Talking Black in America”
Straub Hall 156 | Primary Sponsor: UO Linguistics | Welcome Reception: 4:30 pm & Film: 5:00 pm