Black History Facts Everyone Should Know

There's a reason why Black History Month is February.

Black History Month isn't celebrated in February due to pure coincidence. It was decided upon to coincide with President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass's birthdays. Both have long been aligned and celebrated in the Black communities for their efforts as abolitionists. Parallel to their birthdays was expanded into a month-long celebration formally declared Black History Month by President Gerald Ford in 1976.

The Civil Rights Act made it illegal for Black people to be denied service based on race, color, and religion or face segregation.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Not only did it make segregation illegal, but it also prohibited the use of federal funds on discriminatory practices. The Civil Rights Act later inspired the Voting Act and Fair Housing Act of 1968.

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