“Celebrate the 147th birthday of the “Father of Black History,” Dr. Carter G. Woodson and mark the 100th anniversary of the purchase of his home in the Shaw”

From the National Park Service:

“Celebrate the 147th birthday of the “Father of Black History,” Dr. Carter G. Woodson and mark the 100th anniversary of the purchase of his home in the Shaw neighborhood on Saturday, Dec. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Dunbar High School. Join the National Park Service (NPS) and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) for a special program and musical performances.  

The program will feature remarks from Tara D. Morrison, Superintendent of National Capital Parks-East; Dr. Marvin W. Dulaney, president of ASALH; and recorded remarks from Congresswoman Eleanor Homes-Norton. DC Strings will perform musical selections, students from Dunbar High School will perform a poetry recital and speak about their trips to prominent African American historical sites, and the NPS will present an update on the renovations at the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site. 

Dr. Woodson, the second Black American to graduate with a PhD from Harvard University, was instrumental in establishing African American history as an academic discipline and is best known for creating Negro History Week in 1926, now recognized as Black History Month. Prior to his work, there was very little accurate written history about the lives and experiences of Americans of African descent. In 1915, Dr. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. 

This event is free and open to the public. For more information and the complete event program, visit www.nps.gov/cawo.”