Observed throughout the month of February, Black History Month is dedicated to honoring and publicizing the contributions of prominent African-American individuals and events throughout the history of the North America. The tradition of Black History Month began in the United States with the intention of supplementing academic curricula which was thought to lack significant coverage of African-American History. In the United Kingdom, Black History Month is in observed in October.

Beginning in 1926, the choice of February as Black History Month came directly from founder Dr. Carter G. Woodson.http://www.history.com/topics/black-history-month Woodson chose the second week in February to celebrate what he called "Negro History Week," because it was the birth month of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two prominent figures in African-American history.http://www.history.com/content/blackhistory/black-history-factsIn 1976 President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, after it had been extended from a week to a month on many college campuses.http://www.history.com/topics/black-history-month

Some organizations believe that it is essential to integrate the study of Black History into American classrooms throughout the year, rather than setting aside just one particular month. http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0201/p12s01-legn.html Individuals like Morgan Freeman have expressed opposition to Black History Month.

Each year, a Black History Month theme is assigned by the Association of African American Life and History (ASALH). the theme for 2010 is "The History of Black Economic Empowerment".http://www.asalh.org/index.html Since 2010 is the centennial celebration of the founding of the National Urban League (NUL), ASLAH is taking the opportunity to acknowledge the vital role NUL has played in the economic empowerment achieved by African Americans in the twentieth century.http://www.asalh.org/95thconvention.html

One individual chosen to represent the economic empowerment theme is Madam C.J. Walker. Born on a plantation in 1867 in Delta, Missisippi, the first one in her family born after the emancipation, Sarah Breedlove (her birth name) became an orphan at 7, and married at 14. Madam C.J. Walker eventually became a millionaire by manufacturing, marketing, and selling hair care products for black women. It has been estimated that along the way she helped nearly 40,000 other black women obtain employment and a better life. Madam C.J. Walker worked for the improvement of conditions for black men and women throughout her life and will be featured as an example of black economic empowerment this year.http://www.madamcjwalker.com/bio_madam_cj_walker.aspx