Black History Month 2026: A Century of Black History Commemorations

2026 marks a powerful milestone: 100 years of national Black history commemorations. This centennial celebrates the visionaries who advance equality and preserve the history of Black Americans, and the moments that continue to shape progress today.

Journey through this timeline to discover the people and events whose influence profoundly impacts our world.

A TIMELINE OF BLACK HISTORY

1926

Carter G. Woodson establishes Negro History Week, affirming that Black history is essential to American history and worthy of study, preservation, and celebration.

1954

Brown v. Board of Education ends legal school segregation, marking a major step toward educational equity and civil rights.

1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlaws discrimination and reshapes civil rights protections nationwide.

1965

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 secures and protects Black voting rights, expanding democratic participation.

1968

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing.

1981

Dr. Alexa Canady becomes the first Black woman neurosurgeon in the U.S., advancing excellence and representation in medicine.

1993

Dr. Joycelyn Elders serves as the first Black U.S. Surgeon General, elevating public health conversations nationwide.

2008

Barack Obama is elected the first Black president of the United States, a defining moment of representation and national progress.

2013

The founding of Black Lives Matter reframes global conversations around justice, dignity, and the value of Black lives.

2016

The National Museum of African American History and Culture opens in Washington DC, cementing Black history as central to the American story.

KEY INFLUENCERS

Carter G. Woodson

1875-1950

As a founder and director of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, Carter established Negro History Week in 1926. Through carefully chosen themes and resources, he elevated the study of Black history and highlighted the profound contributions of Black Americans to the nation’s cultural and historical landscape.

This observance later expanded into Black History Month, now recognized nationwide in schools, workplaces, and cultural heritage sites.

Fannie Lou Hamer

1917-1977

Fannie was a leading advocate for voting rights and women’s rights and a powerful voice of the Civil Rights Movement. After years of advocacy, she became a member of Mississippi’s first integrated delegation, marking a historic breakthrough in political representation. 48 years after her death, Hamer was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Jesse Jackson

1941-present

Jesse is a civil rights activist, politician, and ordained minister who was integral in bridging the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s with late-20th century

electoral politics and activism. He formed two non-profit organizations, Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition (which later merged into the Rainbow Push Coalition), with missions of advocacy for socioeconomic and political equality across all races.

Through elections, the media, public protest, and negotiation, Jesse has used various platforms to champion corporate accountability and level the playing field for marginalized communities.

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