Carter G. Woodson Celebration and African American Read-In
Born in New Canton, Virginia in 1875, Carter G. Woodson, the son of former slaves, would become one of the most important figures in African American history. An historian and journalist, Woodson received his Ph.D. in history from Harvard in 1912, making him the second African American to earn a doctorate after W.E.B. DuBois. Woodson eventually founded Negro History Week--which later evolved as African American History Month. He would also found The Journal of Negro History and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. As a youngster, he came from a large, poor family who could not afford a formal education for their son. However, like many self-motivated and determined black leaders, Woodson became self-educated at a young age. By the time he reached his late teens, he had demonstrated his proficiency in elementary and secondary school subjects. Eager to learn more, he left for Fayette County to work and gradually earn his education. By the time ...