Black History Month at NYPL (2024)

FAQs

What are good questions to ask about Black History Month? ›

As a research division of The New York Public Library, the Schomburg Center features diverse programming and collections spanning over 11 million items that illuminate the richness of global Black history, arts, and culture.

Black History Month means looking back at the impact pioneers and leaders of the Black community have had on our community, organizations and cities. It means celebrating and honoring the legacy these leaders have laid for future generations to follow.

It was first celebrated during the second week of February in 1926 to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass (February 14). In 1976, as part of the nation's bicentennial, the week was expanded to a month.

Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the United States today.

The New York Public Library's flagship location, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, is one of the Library's premier research centers, renowned for its extraordinary historical collections and its commitment to providing free and equal access to its resources.

Mr. Fedeler lived and worked in New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street from 1910 to 1940 as the library's live-in superintendent and engineer.

The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library holds one of the largest and most dynamic collections of rare books and manuscripts in the world. Its holdings draw hundreds of scholars, artists, and critics from around the world to the reading room each year.

The national theme for Black History Month 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts.” Black History Month 2024 is a time to recognize and highlight the achievements of Black artists and creators, and the role they played in U.S. history and in shaping our country today.

What does the yellow mean in Black History Month? ›

Black, which represents resilience; Red, which is meant to symbolize the blood of innocent Black lives shed throughout history; Yellow, which is meant to convey optimism, justice, and equality; Green, which is used to symbolize Africa's rich greenery and other natural resources.

Woodson chose February for reasons of tradition and reform. 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.

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.

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.

As a whole, do you think white Americans are disinterested in African American history? What facts did you use to form your opinion? Today, there are museums and memorials to honor African Americans who played a vital role in working towards equality for the race. Is it enough to honor these men and women this way?

How and why did you become active in the Civil Rights Movement? What did you do during the Civil Rights movement? Was violence or repression ever directed against you personally? What did the Southern Freedom Movement mean to you?