This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Search form

Honoring the African American Experience: The White House Celebrates Black History Month

Summary: 
To commemorate Black History Month, the White House hosted a number of events and activities to celebrate the contributions and the accomplishments of African Americans both past and present.
President Obama, with First Lady Michelle Obama, delivers remarks during a reception celebrating Black History Month

President Barack Obama, with First Lady Michelle Obama, delivers remarks during a reception celebrating Black History Month in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 26, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Watch on YouTube

In 1926, the great historian and author Carter G. Woodson pioneered "Negro History Week" — a time set aside to honor African Americans and their contributions to our history.

"If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition," Woodson once wrote. "It becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated."

That week would later become Black History Month — and this year, the White House hosted a number of events and activities to celebrate the contributions and the accomplishments of African Americans both past and present.

"We don’t set aside this month each year to isolate or segregate or put under a glass case black history," the President said at last week's Black History Month reception here at the White House. "We set it aside to illuminate those threads — those living threads that African Americans have woven into the tight tapestry of this nation — to make it stronger, and more beautiful, and more just, and more free."

Watch our wrap-up video from this year's Black History Month events at the White House — and check out the following blog posts for more information on some of those events:

Find out how other Departments and agencies celebrated Black History Month here.