Celebrating Black History Month with Washington’s National Park Fund

February 1, 2022

By: Washington’s National Park Fund / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team

Black History Month is a special time set aside to acknowledge, to reflect on, and to be inspired by the history, the culture, and the contributions of Black Americans to our country and to the world. 

Though the official designation by the United States Congress of February as Black History Month took place in 1986, the idea had its inception in 1926, thanks to the efforts of American author, journalist, and historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson. February was chosen because the two great Americans and symbols of freedom Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were born on this month. 


National parks play a fundamental role in highlighting, preserving, and documenting the historical journey, the achievements, and the suffering and resilience of African Americans. More than a dozen national historic sites and monuments named after individuals and events directly associated with Black History, along with many other sites within the national park system with similarly tangible connections remind us how intimately intertwined the African American journey is with this nation’s history. 

Washington’s National Park Fund proudly joins the National Park Service and our state’s three largest national parks in celebrating Black History Month.

 

Learn More & Be Inspired

For a short inspirational moment, we recommend the outstanding National Park Service-produced video “Twenty & Odd”, which combines thoughtfully curated images with audio of “Still I Rise” by poet laureate and civil rights leader Dr. Maya Angelou, at nps.gov/subjects/africanamericanheritage/twenty-and-odd.htm.

For more, check out these resources:

Cover photo: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, located in Maryland, is one of many national parks named in honor of African Americans. Photo courtesy of NPS.

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