The Kern High School District is observing Black History Month from February 1 to March 1 by celebrating the achievements of African American individuals throughout our nation's history while recognizing their struggles for freedom and equality.

Black History Month, or African American History Month, originated in 1915 by historian and founder of the Study of Negro Life and History, Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Today, the organization is known as the Association for the Study of African Life and History (ASALH). Dr. Woodson enacted the first Negro History Week in February of 1926 to coincide with Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass's birthdays.

President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1975. He sent a message to the public saying, "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."

Since then, every American president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme. The 2023 Black History Month's theme is "Black Resistance."

Over the next month, you will find stories, videos, and information on this page as we reflect on and honor African Americans' contributions to our nation's history.