February 1st marks the first day of what we call Black History month. For many African Americans the origin of the celebrated month is not known. In fact, there is a running joke in the African American community that Blacks got the short end of the stick with Black History month being in the shortest month of the year.

Here are some interesting facts:

Black History Month was originated in 1926 by Carter Godwin Woodson as Negro History Week. The month of February was selected in deference to Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln who were both born in that month.

Carter G. Woodson was born in New Canton, Virginia on December 19, 1875. He was the son of a slave. Something that you will find unusual in contrast to today's typical student was that Woodson began high school at the age of 20.  After high school he proceeded to study at Berea College, the University of Chicago, the Sorbonne, and Harvard University, where he earned a Ph.D. in 1912.

Because there is a Black History month and not a Caucasian History month, some people have said Black History month is a motivated reverse racist concept. Woodson's reasons however had nothing to do with racism. In fact, Woodson's reason for founding the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (1915) was to train Black historians and to collect, preserve, and publish documents on Black life and Black people.

Woodson went on to make other enormous contributions to the perservation of Black history. He founded the Journal of Negro History (1916), Associated Publishers (1922), and the Negro Bulletin (1937). Woodson spent his life working to educate all people about the vast contributions made by Black men and women throughout history. Mr. Woodson died on April 3, 1950 and Black History Month is his legacy.