Scrap It, Revamp It: 100 Years of Black History Commemorations (1926 – 2026)

In the early twentieth century, Black communities in America had begun marking the February birthdays of social reformer and civil rights activist, Frederick Douglass and US president Abraham Lincoln as opportunities to celebrate emancipation and self-determination.

In 1926, Carter G Woodson established Negro History Week, fuelled by what he saw as an urgent need to recognise African-American history, in its own right.

In doing so, Woodson became the “father of Black history” and cemented a footprint for Black History Month, which was formerly recognised in the US in 1976 and the UK in October 1987.Now recognised around the world, Black History Month may take place at different times of the year, explore different themes and embrace different legacies, but its fundamental principles remain the same; that Black history needs a place within cultural calendars and institutional structures are needed to make this possible.

To recognise these significant anniversaries, this exhibition will explore a pocket history of Black History Month, its international legacy and its future within arts, academia and the media.The exhibition is free to visit February – December 2026 during the opening hours of Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.Image credit: Frederick Douglass c.1879.

National Archives FL-FL-22.