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The beginnings of Black History Month were developed by Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson. Woodson identified a need for such a celebration after witnessing the enormous response to the celebrations held for the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation. The first "Negro History Week" was observed in February 1926. A main goal of the weeklong celebration was to show an example of what students and Americans should be learning year-long. It was never intended to be restricted to just one week of education, just as it should not be restricted to just one month. It began to shift to "Negro History Month" in the 1960s, and in 1976 the Association for the Study of African American Life and History was successful in officially transforming "Negro History Week" to "Black History Month". You can read more details of Black History month on the Association for the Study of African American Life and History website and on the official US Government site for the month-long celebration.