As we commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Black History Month, we honor a legacy that began in 1926 with the vision of Carter G. Woodson, the distinguished historian, scholar, and founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Dr. Woodson established Negro History Week to correct the deliberate omission and distortion of Black contributions from American historical narratives. His work was an act of intellectual resistance—rooted in the belief that a people who understand their history are empowered to shape their future. What began as a week of study and recognition evolved into Black History Month in 1976, becoming both a national observance and a global call to remember, reflect, and reclaim truth.
For the Doleman Black Heritage Museum (DBHM), this centennial is deeply personal and profoundly purposeful. In recognition of the significance of this moment, DBHM will commemorate Black History Month throughout 2026, extending the observance beyond February to create a yearlong continuum of reflection, education, and celebration. This extended commemoration affirms our alignment with Dr. Woodson’s charge: to preserve, interpret, and present Black history as American history—unfiltered, unapologetic, and rooted in community voice. Through the stewardship of more than 4,500 artifacts, exhibitions, educational programming, and public celebrations, DBHM safeguards the lived experiences of Black families, neighborhoods, and institutions shaped by resilience, self-determination, and cultural excellence.
As we mark this historic milestone, DBHM reaffirms that Black history is not seasonal—it is enduring. Celebrating throughout 2026 allows us to move beyond remembrance toward responsibility: to tell fuller truths, to confront historical erasure, and to ensure future generations inherit both knowledge and pride. In honoring Dr. Woodson’s legacy during this centennial year, DBHM recommits itself to excellence, integrity, and cultural stewardship—standing as a community anchor where Black history is preserved with dignity, shared with purpose, and celebrated without compromise.
Lift Every Voice and Sing was written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson, with music composed by his brother J. Rosamond Johnson, to commemorate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln at a segregated school in Jacksonville, Florida. What began as a poem recited by Black schoolchildren quickly took on a life far beyond its original setting. Set to music and sung in churches, schools, and community gatherings, the song articulated both the pain of enslavement and segregation and the enduring hope, faith, and resolve of a people determined to survive and thrive. By the early 20th century, it had become a unifying spiritual and cultural anthem across Black America.
Over time, Lift Every Voice and Sing became known as the “Negro National Anthem,” formally embraced by the NAACP in 1919 and carried forward through the Civil Rights Movement and into the present day. Its lyrics—rooted in memory, perseverance, and collective faith—continue to resonate as a call to justice, dignity, and unity. This tradition is powerfully honored in the Voices of Victory Radio Choir of Pensacola, Florida, under the leadership of and arranged by Minister Tom Alexander. Their rendition stands as a living testament to the song’s legacy: not merely a historical artifact, but a sacred inheritance—sung, believed, and carried forward from generation to generation.
