Black History Month’s 100th birthday is here. Does Michigan observe?

This month marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and Michigan is celebrating the occasion.

The month recognizing Black Americans stems from the efforts of pioneering intellectual Carter G. Woodson, who initiated Negro History Week in February 1926, according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist recognized the month in a Feb. 2 proclamation, encouraging Michiganders to uplift Black American history during this time.

“African Americans have made significant cultural, historical, and economic contributions to the development of America and the American way of life,” the proclamation stated.

Here’s what to know Black History Month in Michigan.

Is Michigan observing Black History Month?

Yes, Michigan recognizes Black History Month, according to the proclamation by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.

“The state of Michigan also recognizes the strength, endurance, and faith of African American ancestors in their struggle for freedom, and pays tribute to their continuous pursuit of overcoming injustices,” the proclamation stated.

The Michigan House on Feb. 4 also adopted a resolution recognizing Black History Month.

What did President Trump say about Black History Month?

President Donald Trump on Feb. 3 issued a proclamation in the first year of his second term to honor “countless black American heroes.” He wrote that “‘black history’ is not distinct from American history — rather, the history of black Americans is an indispensable chapter in our grand American story.”

When is Black History Month in 2026?

Black History Month is February 2026.

When did Black History Month get started?

The origins of Black History Month lie in Negro History Week, founded in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a prominent Black American intellectual, according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

“Woodson chose February for reasons of tradition and reform. It is commonly said that Woodson selected February to encompass the birthdays of two great Americans who played a prominent role in shaping black history, namely Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, whose birthdays are the 12th and the 14th, respectively,” the association’s website says.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.