You’re probably checking the date. Maybe you saw a lingering banner at a local library or noticed a brand's social media profile still sporting a Pan-African flag and wondered, is it still Black History Month? It depends on where you are. Right now.
In the United States and Canada, February is the designated time. It’s a short month, a fact often joked about with a bit of a sting, but it’s packed. If you are reading this in October, however, and you happen to be in the United Kingdom, Ireland, or parts of the Netherlands, then yes—it absolutely is.
The "when" is actually less interesting than the "why" and the "what happens next." We tend to treat these heritage months like a seasonal sale. Once the calendar flips, the posters come down, the corporate DEI budgets pivot to the next demographic, and the conversation just... stops. But Black history isn't a museum exhibit you visit once a year. It’s the literal bedrock of modern civilization, from the way we use cellular technology to the music playing in your earbuds right this second.
The Origin Story Most People Skip
We usually credit Carter G. Woodson for the whole thing. He was a Harvard-trained historian who got fed up with the way Black achievements were being erased or ignored in American schools. Back in 1926, he launched "Negro History Week." He chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
It wasn't meant to be a permanent fixture.
Woodson actually hoped that one day, a dedicated week wouldn't be necessary. He wanted Black history to be so integrated into the standard American narrative that "Black History" as a separate category would simply cease to exist. We aren't there yet. Not even close.
The shift to a full month didn't happen overnight. It was the Black United Students at Kent State University who first proposed expanding it to a month in 1969. By 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized it, urging Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans."
The Global Calendar: Is It Still Black History Month Somewhere Else?
If it's October, and you're in London, the answer to is it still Black History Month is a resounding yes. The UK didn't start celebrating until 1987. Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a special projects officer at the Greater London Council, was the driving force.
Why October?
In the UK, October marks the beginning of the academic year for many students. The idea was to instill a sense of pride and identity in Black children right at the start of their schooling. It’s a different vibe than the US version. It focuses heavily on the African diaspora's contribution to British history, which is often sanitized or minimized in traditional textbooks.
📖 Related: Hairstyles for women over 50 with round faces: What your stylist isn't telling you
Ireland followed suit in 2010. Various cities in Germany and the Netherlands have their own timelines too. It's kinda fascinating how this "month" travels across the globe, adapting to the local culture and the specific struggles of the Black community in those regions.
Why the "Only in February" Logic is Broken
Honestly, the biggest problem with the question is it still Black History Month is the implication that we can stop paying attention once March 1st hits.
Think about it.
We don't stop caring about math after the final exam. We don't stop using the internet when "Cybersecurity Awareness Month" ends. Yet, there’s this weird cultural phenomenon where businesses and schools treat Black history like a temporary theme.
Take the medical field, for instance.
Dr. Charles Drew revolutionized the way we process and store blood plasma. Without his work, the casualty rates in World War II—and in modern emergency rooms—would be astronomically higher. His work doesn't stop being relevant on March 1st. The same goes for Alice Ball, who developed the most effective treatment for leprosy in the early 20th century. Or Gladys West, the mathematician whose calculations literally gave us GPS.
When we ask if it's "still" the month, we're subconsciously giving ourselves permission to look away.
The Corporate "Wash"
You’ve seen it.
A major shoe brand releases a "BHM" colorway. A tech giant puts a mural on their homepage. Then, the clock strikes midnight on the last day of February, and those initiatives vanish. This is often called "performative activism."
👉 See also: How to Sign Someone Up for Scientology: What Actually Happens and What You Need to Know
Real change happens in the off-season.
When people ask is it still Black History Month, they are often looking for the cultural "permission" to engage with these topics. But the most impactful work happens in July, or November, or any other random Tuesday. It's about diversifying supply chains, hiring fairly, and teaching a curriculum that includes the Tulsa Race Massacre alongside the Boston Tea Party.
Beyond the "Greatest Hits" List
If your knowledge of Black history starts with Martin Luther King Jr. and ends with Rosa Parks, you've been shortchanged.
The education system often sticks to a "Greatest Hits" version of history that is palatable and non-threatening. We talk about the "I Have a Dream" speech, but rarely about King’s radical views on economic justice or his opposition to the Vietnam War. We talk about Rosa Parks being tired, but we skip the fact that she was a trained activist and an investigator for the NAACP who spent years fighting for victims of sexual violence.
There are thousands of names you probably haven't heard.
- Bayard Rustin: The man who actually organized the March on Washington but was pushed to the shadows because he was openly gay.
- Claudette Colvin: The 15-year-old who refused to give up her seat months before Rosa Parks did.
- The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion: The only all-Black, all-female battalion sent overseas during WWII to clear a massive backlog of mail for millions of soldiers.
These stories aren't "extra credit." They are the credit.
What to Do When It’s NOT Black History Month
So, if the answer to is it still Black History Month is "no" on your calendar, what are you supposed to do?
The work doesn't change; only the level of public noise does.
Change your media diet. Don't wait for a curated list of "Black voices to follow" in February. Seek out Black journalists, historians, and creators now. Read books like The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson or Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington. These aren't just "history" books; they are keys to understanding how the world functions today.
✨ Don't miss: Wire brush for cleaning: What most people get wrong about choosing the right bristles
Support Black-owned businesses consistently. Don't just buy the "special edition" t-shirt. Find a Black-owned bookstore, a local coffee shop, or a service provider and integrate them into your regular spending habits. Economic equity is a 365-day-a-year necessity.
Question the curriculum. If you have kids in school, look at what they are learning in October or May. Is Black history relegated to a single unit about slavery and the Civil Rights Movement? If so, talk to the school board. Ask why the contributions of Black scientists, writers, and philosophers aren't woven throughout the entire year.
Listen more than you post. Social media makes us feel like we need to have a "take" on everything immediately. Sometimes the best way to honor the legacy of Black history is to sit back and listen to the people currently living it.
The Calendar is Just a Tool
Basically, the "month" is a reminder, not a deadline.
It exists because we, as a society, have a track record of forgetting. It’s a focal point, a way to gather energy and attention. But if that energy doesn't carry over into the rest of the year, it’s just a performance.
So, is it still Black History Month?
If you are committed to learning, if you are challenging your own biases, and if you are actively working toward a more equitable world, then the answer is always yes. The calendar is just paper. The history is permanent.
Next Steps for Continued Engagement:
- Audit Your Sources: Check your most recent "read" or "watched" list. If it lacks diversity, intentionally add three Black-authored books or documentaries to your queue for the next three months.
- Local History Research: Look up the Black history of your specific city. Most towns have "hidden" landmarks or stories of local leaders that never make it into national textbooks.
- Review Workplace Policies: If you are in a leadership position, look at your DEI initiatives. Are they seasonal? If they only peak in February, it’s time to restructure them into year-round KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).
- Institutional Support: Consider setting up a recurring monthly donation to organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Equal Justice Initiative, or local Black-led community centers. Consistent funding is more valuable than a one-time "awareness" post.