“This month, we recognize the courage and tenacity of so many hard-working Americans whose legacies are woven into the fabric of our Nation. We are heirs to their extraordinary progress,” said President Obama in his proclamation on National African American History Month.
February is National African American History Month, and is a time to remember the contributions African-Americans have made to the country.
What began as “Negro History Week” in 1925 became a month-long celebration in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
This year’s theme is “The History of Black Economic Empowerment,” which recognizes the work and success of several distinguished African-Americans during economically challenging times.
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