Black History Month: What's Theme of This Year's African American History Month?

Question: Black History Month: What's Theme of This Year's African American History Month?

Every year there's a different theme for February's celebration of African American History Month, also called Black History Month for short. What's this year's theme? And who sets the theme agenda?

Answer: The 2012 theme for African American History Month, celebrated in February, is "Black Women in American: Culture and History."

This conveniently combines February's celebration of Black History Month with March's celebration of Women's History Month.

The theme is announced annually by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)in Washington DC, which also offers "theme kits" for every African American History year.

About the Association for the Study of African American Life and History

• The organization's stated goal "is to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community."
• It is currently located temporarily on the campus of Howard University.
• Established on September 9, 1915
• Founded y Dr. Carter G. Woodson
• The organization are the founders of Black History Month
• Contact: http://www.asalh.org
• Theme Kit information: http://www.asalh.org/themeproducts.html

Variations on the Theme: Medgar Evers College Offers Elaborate Program

Of course, nothing's written in stone, and many organizations develop their own focus. For instance, there's a remarkably rich, month-long series of programs for the 2012 Black History Month at Brooklyn's Medgar Evers College, part of the CUNY system. Their theme? "African-American Trailblazers, Pioneers and Educators." Check out their dozens of offerings: lectures, films, discussions, author talks, and more. Medgar Evers College 2012 Black History Month Programming.