Black History Month is in February because of Lincoln’s and Frederick Douglass’s (chosen) birthday being Feb 12 & 14. “Negro History Week” was first organized around those dates, before expanding to Black History Month in the 70s...
I just mention that because every year I hear people saying “why February?”
Carter G Woodson made the official declaration of Negro History Week in 1926, but Black teachers had been organizing Black history celebrations and programs in February (and other times as well) for years prior.
Also, from the outset though a U.S. based celebration, it was devoted to global Black history. Early programs (which are absolutely beautiful to read) included both domestic and international historic events and figures.
The structure of early programs were often similar to liturgical events, and included song, recitation, poetry and presentation of histories in narrative form or as re-enactments. They were community occasions. Folk forms were often blended with classical ones.
