Black History Month: Carter G. Woodson’s DC Legacy & Afro-Latino Connection
- Woodson, a historian and resident of Washington, D.C., transformed education about African American history with the creation of Black History Week.
- The initiative arose to strengthen the pride, respect, and self-esteem of the Black community, at a time when racism was at its height and lynchings were frequent in...
- The week included talks by authors, musical performances, plays by Black dramatists, and lectures on African American history.
One hundred years ago, Carter G. Woodson, a historian and resident of Washington, D.C., transformed education about African American history with the creation of Black History Week. In a pamphlet promoting the idea, Woodson wrote:
“That truth shall destroy the divisive prejudice of nationality and teach universal love without distinction of race, merit or rank.”
The initiative arose to strengthen the pride, respect, and self-esteem of the Black community, at a time when racism was at its height and lynchings were frequent in the South.
The week included talks by authors, musical performances, plays by Black dramatists, and lectures on African American history. From D.C., the celebration spread to cities like Detroit, Jacksonville, and Richmond, growing from neighborhoods to universities, eventually becoming Black History Month, nationally recognized since the mid-1970s.
Carter G. Woodson and his legacy in D.C.
The son of formerly enslaved people in Virginia, Woodson was the second African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard, after W.E.B. Du Bois. In 1915, he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, crucial to organizing Negro History Week. Karsonya Wise Whitehead, president of the current organization, notes:
“It was about making sure our children and community members had the truth about who we were and what we had contributed to the American historical narrative.”
Woodson’s home in Shaw became a haven for students and adults seeking rare books and materials on Black history. Today, the National Park Service maintains the site as a historic place and plans to reopen it this year with a museum and resource center, featuring exhibits including videos of the historian and items from his library.
Black History Month and the Latino community
In 2026, Black History Month in D.C. Will not only celebrate the African American community but also highlight the intersection with Latino culture, particularly Afro-Latino identities. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is hosting roundtables to analyze race, migration, and the experience of the Black diaspora in Latin America and the United States.
Local organizations like DC Afro-Latino Caucus and Trabajadores Unidos de Washington, DC are driving events that showcase the role of Afro-Latinos in the city’s social justice movements. Murals and cultural exhibitions reflect the diversity of the Latino community, including Indigenous and Afro-Latino representations. As advocates from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) point out, many Latinos are also Black, sharing a history of struggle for civil rights alongside the African American community.
Black History Month began as a week of education and pride, but its message remains relevant: Black and Afro-Latino history deserves to be studied and celebrated year-round, not just in February. Recognizing these shared histories strengthens the community, fosters solidarity, and reminds us that diversity is a pillar of Washington, D.C.’s identity.