Honor and Reflect
Black History Month is the annual month-long celebration in February that marks the African American community's achievements and recognizes their central role in U.S. history. In 1926, the historian and scholar Carter G. Woodson chose February 7 for the first celebration of Negro History Week. He chose this month because both Abraham Lincoln and Frederic Douglass's birthdays - two Americans who shaped African American History in the U.S.- were on February 12 and 14, respectively. President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month in 1976.
The Town of Erie celebrates Black History Month during February by sharing information to help unify the community and build cultural competence. With this in mind, the Town – along with key partners in diversity, equity, and inclusion work – will be launching a new community conversation/speaker series next month on the topic of talking about race with youth. Details about the program co-hosts and how to participate are coming very soon!
