Ancestor Hunt > February is Black History Month

Celebrate Black History Month

Celebrating Community

Free African American Records

Black History Month Links

What is Black History Month?

Getting started in African American Genealogy

Online Records

Black History Links

Black History

Civil War

Black History Book Picks

Also See: Black History Month 2007 & Black History Month 2005

Celebrate Black History Month 2006!

2006 National Theme: Celebrating Community: A Tribute to Black Fraternal, Social and Civic Institutions

The theme chosen by ASALH for the celebration of Black History Month 2006 is:

Celebrating Community: A Tribute to Black Fraternal, Social and Civic Institutions.

February 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of teh first collegiate black Greek letter fraternity - Alpha Phi Alpha.  This fraternity founded was founded during a time racial unrest and segregation.  A group of black fraternities and sororities, better known as the Divine Nine sprang to life and became a milestone for the black community.  The "Divine Nine" was joined with many civic organizations, such as Masons, Eastern Stars, Urban League and Colored Women's Clubs of America, bringing new meaning to black community.

Black History Month Links:

Black History Month at InfoPlease

Celebrate Black History Month - The Blue Highway.

Breaking Racial Barriers - African Americans in the Harmon Foundation Collection.

Biographies of Famous African Americans

Black History Month - NY Times.

Celebrating Black History Month - Time.com

In February of each and every year, we celebrate Black History Month.  

This tradition was started by Carter G. Woodson.

He was born 1875, a son of former slaves in New Canton, Virginia.  Coming into the world just ten years after the 13th amendment was passed - abolishing slavery, he became a noted Black scholar and historian.  In 1915, he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.  On February 12, 1926, he started the first "Negro History Week".  He chose the second week of February to coincide with birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass because these men had such an impact on black history.  Until 1976, the second week in February was celebrated as Negro History Week by African Americans.  

During the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial Celebration, Negro History Week was expanded into "Black History Month" and is widely celebrated each year by Americans.

Carter G. Woodson died in April 3, 1950 but left a great legacy behind.

African American Research Possible?

Q: Just starting out with this interest, I have a novice's suspicion that I will run up against a brick wall when I reach the point in history where slavery devastated continuity in the tracking of African ancestry. Am I wrong to be a little discouraged? -- P.

A: Researching your African American ancestry is not something that is considered easy. However, in genealogy, there really are no guarantees regardless of what group you are researching. Each ethnic group will pose its own unique research obstacles.

Because you are just starting out, your initial research........

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Finding Your African American Ancestors: A Beginner Guide

Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree

African American Genealogy Research Links

African American Genealogy Help Links

Black History Online Records

1860 Census Slave Schedules

Slave Narratives - A large database at Ancestry.com

Census Finder - Free Census Records Online

Afrigeneas - Offers free genealogy databases of African American records.

Black Families of Alabama's Black Belt

Florida African American Roots

Georgia African American Genealogy

Afro Louisiana History and Genealogy

Mississippi African American Resources

Mississippi Slave Narratives

African Americans in Missouri

People of Color in Old Tennessee

 African American Photo Collection at Ancestry

Select a state:

The African American Mosaic

African American Trailblazers

African American Web Connection

Africana Heritage Project

Black History in The National Parks

Encyclopedia Britannica Guide to Black History

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Slaves and the Courts 1740-1860 at The Library of Congress

Biographies of Famous African Americans

Black History Free Resources

Black History and Classical Music

Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington Papers

The Life of Harriet Tubman

Resting Places of U.S. Colored Troops

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