Falcon Chronicle April 2013 | Page 4

By: Benson Hall

February is Black History Month, aka African-American History Month is a month of events, festivities, celebrations celebrated annually in February for the U.S and Canada and October for the British. The reason why Black History Month is on February for Canadians and Americans is because it was declared that it would be in the same month as Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. This month is to honour the legacy of black people for their accomplishments such as the creation of peanut butter, the pencil sharpener, gas masks, traffic lights and jazz music.

WORLD NEWS

Didn’t think about that, did you? It was started by Dr. Carter Woodson in 1926 as Black History Week in the United States. In 1976, it became Black History Month. In 1987, Black History Month was celebrated in the United Kingdom. Some famous figures in Black History Month are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Mary Ann Shadd, Oprah Winfrey and Harriet Tubman. During this month, celebrations, festivities, events, traditions and cultures are learned.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH