Black History Month

 

 

Black History Event Copy

 

Celebrate Black History Month at this free family friendly event. The evening includes a community resource fair and reception with light refreshments followed by a one-night-only spectacular of music, dance, poetry, and special-guest speeches celebrating African American icons, culture, and history. The 2025 celebration will feature co-emcees Michael Ellington, LAPD, retired, and Dr. Brenda Threatt, Director of Veteran Services, El Camino College, U.S. Coast Guard. Charles Lane will produce the dance and musical performance, while guest speakers will include sports and law enforcement pioneer Anita Ortega, and Director of U.S. Sailing Marie Rogers. Don’t miss this inspirational, educational, and fun-filled extravaganza!

 

History of Black History Month

 

Black History Month is celebrated every February in the United States. It honors the achievements, contributions, and resilience of African Americans throughout history. Its roots date back to 1926 when Carter G. Woodson, a prominent historian and founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), established “Negro History Week.” Woodson chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two figures instrumental in the fight against slavery and for civil rights.
The observance gained traction among schools and Black communities, who saw it as an opportunity to highlight their cultural heritage and historical contributions often excluded from mainstream education. Over time, it expanded beyond schools, becoming a broader celebration of African American history.
During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, interest grew for a more comprehensive and national recognition of Black history. In 1976, during the United States Bicentennial, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, urging Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Today, Black History Month is celebrated nationwide with parades, educational programs, art exhibits, and cultural festivals. Cities across the U.S. host events such as the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee in Alabama, commemorating the Civil Rights marches, and the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles. Schools, museums, and organizations, including Forest Lawn, curate special programs to teach and inspire current and future generations.
While February is the dedicated month, the spirit of Black History Month serves as a year-round reminder of the resilience and brilliance of African Americans. It encourages ongoing reflection on their enduring contributions and a commitment to equity and inclusion in shaping the future.

 

Black History Month at Forest Lawn

 

Forest Lawn has been honoring Black History Month for over 20 years. Originally called the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, the event has grown in size, prominence, and participation by influential Los Angeles area leaders and residents. It is part of Forest Lawn’s ongoing mission to educate and uplift the communities in which it serves.

 

Black History Facts

  • African Americans have contributed significantly to science and technology. Garrett Morgan invented the three-light traffic signal, and Dr. Patricia Bath developed the Laserphaco Probe, revolutionizing cataract surgery.
  • In 2008, Barack Obama made history as the first African American president of the United States, serving two terms from 2009 to 2017.
  • Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license in 1921. She overcame racial and gender barriers by training in France, as U.S. flight schools excluded her.
  • Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947, paving the way for generations of athletes to follow.
  • The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and ’30s was a cultural explosion of Black creativity, producing legendary figures like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Duke Ellington.
  • African Americans Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson were essential to NASA’s space missions. Their work was highlighted in the movie Hidden Figures.
  • Thurgood Marshall became the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice in 1967, following his victory in *Brown v. Board of Education*, which ended segregation in schools.
  • June 19th, or Juneteenth, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in 1865. It’s recognized as a federal holiday and is a time of celebration and reflection on freedom and progress.
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a child prodigy. He skipped both the ninth and twelfth grades and entered Morehouse College at just 15 years old. Despite his young age, he graduated with a degree in sociology and later earned multiple advanced degrees, including a doctorate in theology. His academic achievements showcased his brilliance and leadership, setting the stage for his role in the Civil Rights Movement.