Dr. Carter G. Woodson: The Father of Black History [VIDEO]

It's Feb. 1, and today we begin the celebration of Black History Month to celebrate the trendsetters, innovators and founders who have made considerable contributions to the world.

The Father of Black History is a founder by the name of Dr. Cater G. Woodson. He established the first Black History week, which began Feb. 12, 1926. The second week of February initially was the celebratory period for Black History to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist Fredrick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, the celebration was extended to the entire month of February as a part of the United States bicentennial.

Dr. Woodson was born in 1875, the son of former slaves, and he never took for granted the importance of a proper education. He did not begin his formal education until he was 20 years old and accomplished attaining his high school diploma in West Virginia and his bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Chicago in just a few years. In 1912, he became the second black person to earn a PhD at Harvard University.

In 1915, Dr. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which is now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Under his leadership the Association created research and publication outlets for black scholars developing the Journal of Negro History in 1916 a

nd the Negro History Bulletin in 1937.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson died April 3, 1950 in Washington, D.C. and  in honor of all of the work the did to promote the study of Black History, the White House hangs an ornament of him on their Christmas tree each year.