Meanings
- An annual observance of the history of the African diaspora, held in the United States and Canada throughout the month of February, and throughout October in some European countries.
Synonyms: African American History Month
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounAn annual observance of the history of the African diaspora, held in the United States and Canada throughout the month of February, and throughout October in some European countries.
Origin
Black History Month was first proposed in the United States by black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State one year later, from January 2, 1970 – February 28, 1970.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Black History Month. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Black%20History%20Month
“Black History Month.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Black%20History%20Month. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Black History Month,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Black%20History%20Month.
Source: Black History Month on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.