02/12/2026
During the month of February, we will be celebrating Black History Month to honor the contributions and achievements of Black people in our country. The idea for Black History Month was first formed by historian Carter G. Woodson and colleagues, who organized Negro History Week in February 1926. They selected February for the celebration because the month included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Negro History Week was expanded to Black History Month in 1976, with President Gerald Ford urging Americans to participate in its observance.
To celebrate, each week we will present a brief history of a Black person who has contributed in unique ways. This week, we will learn more about Mardi Gras Indians: A Living Legacy of Resistance and Honor, presented by Jaimie Roberts-Duarte.