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Black History Month

In Focus

After receiving his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1912, Carter Woodson became known as the “father of Black history,” launching Negro History Week, which later expanded into Black History Month.

Listen, read, explore, learn

A black and white photo of 7 Black women standing by stairs

Black Women Oral History Project

The project recorded a cross section of women who had made significant contributions to American society during the first half of the 20th century.

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HBS's Cold Call Podcast: Black Business Leaders Series 2022

A woman takes notes while standing in an office near glass windows
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“All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake"

A bookcover featuring green leaves and the title, "All that she carried"
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The poem “The Story of Venus” looks at the life of an enslaved woman at Harvard

A student wearing a mask stands in front of a green door
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The essay collection "The Black Agenda" highlights the voices of Black experts

Someone holding a book called "The Black Agenda"
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Houghton Library's digital collection of Black history and culture

A sepia drawing of African American men in suits
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An illustration with hands, chains, books, and doves

History still impacts today

What is Critical Race Theory (CRT)?

Derrick Albert Bell Jr., Harvard Law School’s first tenured African American professor of law, is often credited as one of the originators of CRT, a theory that examines why racial inequalities persist even after civil rights legislation is enacted. Graduate School of Education alum Tauheedah Baker-Jones says efforts to ban CRT from the K-12 curriculum demonstrate a misunderstanding of what CRT is and why honest, brave, and respectful discussions about race and racism are important.

Read Tauheedah Baker-Jones’ thoughts on the value—and misconceptions—of CRT

Makers and moments of change

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