The centennial of Black History Month marks more than the passage of time — it commemorates a transformative act of historical preservation, resistance, and affirmation. In 1926, historian and educator Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week to challenge the systematic exclusion of Black people from American historical narratives. What began as a corrective initiative has grown, one hundred years later, into a global observance recognizing the centrality of Black history to the human story.
The importance of this centennial lies first in its reminder of why Black History Month was necessary in the first place. Woodson understood that history is not neutral; it shapes identity, belonging, and power. By documenting Black achievement, struggle, and intellectual life, he sought to counter myths of inferiority and affirm Black humanity in a society structured around racial erasure. The centennial calls us to reflect on how far that work has come, and how incomplete it remains.
This milestone also underscores the role of Black History Month as a living, evolving project rather than a static commemoration. Over the last century, the observance has expanded from a week (Negro History Week) to a month, and from a U.S.-based initiative to an international one. Yet its purpose remains consistent: to elevate overlooked stories, contextualize present-day inequities, and deepen public understanding of Black contributions across disciplines, cultures, and movements.
Equally important, the centennial invites a forward-looking reckoning. At a moment when historical truth is frequently contested and education itself is politicized, Black History Month stands as a reaffirmation of the importance of truth, scholarship, and collective memory. It reminds institutions, educators, and communities that inclusion in history is not symbolic, it is foundational to justice and the story of this country.
Marking 100 years of Black History Month is therefore not simply about honoring the past. It is about recommitting to the responsibility Woodson articulated a century ago: to study history honestly, to center those long marginalized, and to recognize that Black history is not a sidebar to American history; it is essential to understanding who we are and who we aspire to become.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire News. Follow Nsenga on IG @Ntellectual. Subscribe to The Burton Wire News on Substack for more exclusive content.
