Black History Month
Along with Valentine’s Day, February is the time of year that America and many other countries celebrate Black History Month. With it’s origins rooted in the 50 years following the abolishment of slavery, Black History Month has come a long way in recognizing the unique achievements of African American people from all around the globe.
It all started in 1915 when famed historian, Carter G. Woodson, and prominent minister and activist, Jesse Moreland, created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. The organization worked to identify and celebrate the accomplishments of black Americans and their African ancestors. In 1926, the ASNLH proposed the dedication of an entire commemorative week to their cause. The second week February was chosen to recognize what became known as national Negro History week, in honor of the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas.
In the years following the establishment of Negro History week, the event exploded across the country as the mayors of several major cities began designating yearly celebrations to mark the occasion. Nearly 40 years after the initial idea was first proposed, Negro History week had morphed into Black History Month with President Gerald Ford officially recognizing the yearly event in 1976.
In addition to recognizing the contributions of countless African Americans overall, each Black History Month features a specific theme. In 2018, Black History Month will honor “African Americans in Times of War”. It will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and highlight the involvement of black soldiers and civilians in all American conflicts from the American Revolution to current standing warfare.
Everyone Loves Buttons client, The NBA’s Golden State Warriors, (@Warriors) have ordered custom buttons to help celebrate Black History Month. The team has organized multiple in-game activities and community outreach efforts along with a T-shirt giveaway for 10,000 fans that took place at the first home game of the month. Every T-shirt and each button carries the phrase, “Black History is Golden”. The Warriors have also teamed up with BAYCAT Academy, a local non-profit that works to educate youth in digital media production, to create a selection of videos highlighting the work of Bay Area leaders and influencers.
You can still order custom buttons for your Black History Month event throughout the end of the month. We can apply any message that you’d like to broadcast to the world in support of the many historical achievements of black Americans or create a more current look with a #blacklivesmatter button or refrigerator magnet.
Visit Everyone Loves Buttons to explore the many ways to show big support with a little button!
