Celebrate Black History Month! Events are being held across the state throughout the month of February to celebrate the history, experiences, and the contributions of our Black Community.
What is Black History Month?
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. The month-long celebration came from historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans in the early 1900s in response to the lack of information on the accomplishments of Black people available in classrooms and to the broader public. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.
Today, census data shows that 1.5% of Utah’s overall population identifies as Black, making it one of five states in the country with only 2% of its population identifying as Black. While the population may be small in relation to the entire state, Black leaders, business owners, educators, and changemakers are showing that Utah's Black Community is thriving.
Eager to learn more? Check out the following resources and visit the events found on the calendar:
- Black Utah: Stories from a Thriving Community
- ABC4 Utah Black History Month Spotlights
- “StoryCorps”: Black History Month
- PBS Black History Month Programming
- Black History Month Resources
- National Park Service – Black History Month
- Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of African American History and Culture
Thank you to the various community organizations for sharing these events. *Please visit each event's website to verify time, location, and any questions. This is a general overview of events and does not capture all details.
"You must give your own story to the world."