Black History Month 2024 Theme
Since 1976, every American president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme.
The Black History Month 2024 theme, “African Americans and the Arts,” explores the key influence African Americans have had in the fields of “visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural expression.”
In celebrating the rich history of African Americans and the Arts, Prevent Child Abuse America puts into the national spotlight the abundance of the past and the present with an eye towards what the remaining twenty-first century has in store. This year, PCA America highlights Art for Change, welcoming you to explore the purpose and the impact of black art across the nation.
The role of fathers is unique and has great impact on children’s lives. Read here from our current board member, Dr. Clinton Boyd Jr., and former fellow of zerotothree as he honors BHM by speaking up on black fatherhood.
Origins of Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, this observance begins in 1915, half a century after theThirteenth Amendmentabolishedslaveryin the United States.
That September, the Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent.
By the late 1960s, thanks in part to thecivil rights movementand a growing awareness of Black identity, “Negro History Week” had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses.
PresidentGerald Fordofficially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society—from activists and civil rights pioneers such asHarriet Tubman,Sojourner Truth,Marcus Garvey,Martin Luther King Jr.,Malcolm XandRosa Parksto leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more.
Supporting families to support children!
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Additional Resources
Educator Resources | National Civil Rights Museum
BLACK HISTORY THEMES – ASALH – The Founders of Black History Month
Black History Month | Smithsonian Institution (si.edu)
Celebrating Black History Month | ZERO TO THREE
What is the cause of racial disparity in child welfare? – Child Welfare Monitor
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Take action and make your voice heard this year as we honor and celebrate African American artists through their crafts. We encourage you to share our graphics along with one of these suggested captions on social media platforms and tag us @pcaamerica
FAQs
Each year, Black History Month brings another opportunity to discover contributions that enrich our nation. The 2024 theme, “African Americans and the Arts,” explores the creativity, resilience and innovation from a culture that has uplifted spirits and soothed souls in countless ways across centuries.
What is the 2024 theme for Black History Month? ›
Each year, Black History Month brings another opportunity to discover contributions that enrich our nation. The 2024 theme, “African Americans and the Arts,” explores the creativity, resilience and innovation from a culture that has uplifted spirits and soothed souls in countless ways across centuries.
What is the proclamation for Black History Month 2024? ›
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring February 2024 as Black History Month. This month, we pay homage to the rich history and contributions of Black Americans who have shaped our state and nation in countless ways through centuries of struggle and triumph.
Is Black History Month in February or October? ›
February is Black History Month. This month-long observance in the US and Canada is a chance to celebrate Black achievement and provide a fresh reminder to take stock of where systemic racism persists and give visibility to the people and organizations creating change.
What is the theme of the African American read in 2024? ›
Watch this space for information about the 2025 AARI events, coming soon. The 2024 theme is BLACK ECOLOGIES: We will read environmental literature by Black writers, exploring a range of engagements with the natural world, from wilderness to environmental justice and climate change.
What is the theme for Black History Month 2025? ›
The theme, “African Americans and Labor,” intends to encourage broad reflections on intersections between Black people's work and their workplaces in all their iterations and key moments, themes, and events in Black history and culture across time and space and throughout the U.S., Africa, and the Diaspora.
What is the black history fact for 2024? ›
The Black History Month 2024 theme, “African Americans and the Arts,” explores the key influence African Americans have had in the fields of "visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural expression."
What is a beautiful quote for Black History Month? ›
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela, former first President of South Africa and anti-Apartheid leader.
What are the colors for Black History Month? ›
The four colours that are used for Black History Month are black, red, yellow and green. Black represents resilience, red denotes blood, yellow is optimism and justice, and green symbolises rich greenery.
Why was February chosen as the Black History Month? ›
It is commonly said that Woodson selected February to encompass the birthdays of two great Americans who played a prominent role in shaping black history, namely Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, whose birthdays are the 12th and the 14th, respectively. More importantly, he chose them for reasons of tradition.
The 2024 theme is "African Americans and the Arts" spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more.
Who was the first black person born in the 13 colonies? ›
William Tucker was the first person of African ancestry born in the 13 British Colonies. His birth symbolized the beginnings of a distinct African American identity along the eastern coast of what would eventually become the United States.
Who is known as the father of Black history? ›
Carter G. Woodson was a scholar whose dedication to celebrating the historic contributions of Black people led to the establishment of Black History Month, marked every February since 1976.
What is the theme for African Americans in the Arts 2024? ›
In 2024, we examine the varied history and life of African American arts and artisans. For centuries Western intellectuals denied or minimized the contributions of people of African descent to the arts as well as history, even as their artistry in many genres was mimicked and/or stolen.
What is the theme of Black History Month this year? ›
Black History Month Theme for 2024
This year's Black History Month has the theme "African Americans and the Arts." The ASALH shares, "African American art is infused with African, Caribbean, and the Black American lived experiences.
What is the theme for Women's history month 2024? ›
The 2024 Women's History Month theme established by The National Women's History Alliance is titled: "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion." The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our ...
What is the theme for Black History Month 2024 in Jamaica? ›
February was chosen primarily because it coincided with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln, who was influential in the emancipation of slaves, and Douglass, a former slave and a prominent leader in the abolitionist movement. The Black History Month theme for 2024 is 'Rhythms of Resilience: One Soul, One Sound'.
