Black History Month celebrates the huge contribution that Black men and women have made to British society. AP Images “February is Black History Month.” Since the 1970s that familiar declaration has introduced countless celebrations of African American history and achievement, from Black History Minutes on local television stations to the pronouncements of U.S. presidents. African American History Month, a monthlong commemoration of African American history and achievement that takes place each February in the United States. By the time Black History Month was formally declared in 1976, the Black Power movement had fueled a new emphasis on “what’s unique about being a black … The 2020 theme for Black History Month is: "Canadians of African Descent: Going forward, guided by the past." Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. In the USA and Canada, Black History Month is celebrated in the month of February while in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands it's celebrated in October. Black History Month poster. But why is February designated as the month to commemorate African American history? This was inspired by the theme of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024). Black History Month is an annual tradition followed by several countries as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. Black History Month is a great opportunity for people from all backgrounds to educate themselves on black history and the often-overlooked people who have made a difference to the country. It was begun in 1976 as an expansion of Negro History Week, which was itself begun in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson.