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Celebrate with us all month long
The 2024 theme for Black History Month is "African Americans and the Arts" spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. Celebrate Black History Month with Smithsonian events, resources, exhibitions, and podcasts.
Black History Month, celebrated in February, is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. Black History Month was first proposed by Black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State a year later, from January 2 to February 28, 1970. Since its inception, Black History Month has expanded beyond its initial acceptance in educational establishments.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.”
“Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.”
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