As the calendar turns to February 2026, the United States is embarking on a milestone celebration: the centennial of the first national push to honor Black history.
This year’s official theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” was selected by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to honor the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson. In 1926, Woodson launched the inaugural “Negro History Week,” a movement that would eventually evolve into the month-long observance recognized globally today.
The choice of February was never accidental. Dr. Woodson, often called the “Father of Black History,” selected the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of two men whose lives were central to the Black American story:
Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12): The president who signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14): The famed abolitionist and orator who, having been born into enslavement, chose this date to celebrate his birth.
What began as a grassroots effort to ensure Black contributions were taught in public schools was officially expanded to a full month by President Gerald Ford in 1976, during the nation’s Bicentennial.
In Pennsylvania and across the country, 2026 is being viewed as a unique “double anniversary,” as the 100th year of Black History Month coincides with the United States Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary).
“Black history is American history,” said Representative Napoleon Nelson, chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus. “Especially now, it is important that we reflect on our history and use it to shape a more just future.”
Communities are marking the centennial with a blend of historical reflection and modern celebration:
Philadelphia: The Museum of the American Revolution is hosting daily talks and “First-Person” theatrical performances focusing on Black revolutionaries like Elizabeth Freeman.
Pittsburgh: The city is honoring the legacy of the Vashon family, highlighting their 19th-century activism in education and abolition.
Statewide: The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) is launching a daily digital series throughout February to profile Black student-athletes and coaches who have broken barriers in the Commonwealth.
While the centennial looks back at a hundred years of progress, organizers emphasize that the observance is as much about the future as it is the past. This year’s theme encourages citizens to explore how Black history has shaped American identity and fostered resilience in the face of ongoing social challenges.
From “transcribe-a-thons” aimed at digitizing Frederick Douglass’s papers to jazz reimagined at Penn State, the 100th anniversary stands as a testament to Woodson’s original vision: that Black history is not a separate chapter, but the very ink with which the American story is written.
