Black History Month is celebrated during February to honor two men who helped African Americans: Abraham Lincoln (born February 12) through his creation of the Emancipation Proclamation, and Fredrick Douglas (born February 14), the "abolitionist, orator, and author."
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Black History Month was founded by "Carter G. Woodson, who pioneered the field of African American studies in the early 20th century."
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Black History Month celebrates the true contributions of black people. There are too many to name but some are: Martin Luther King Jr., Fredrick Douglas, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Barack Obama, Kathryn Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, Christine Darden, and so many more.
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Citation: https://www.britannica.com/story/why-is-black-history-month-celebrated-in-february
Recommended Reading:
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The President and the Freedom Fighter: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Their Battle to Save America's Soul by Brian Kilmeade.
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Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. by Ibram X. Kendi
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The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, 10th Anniversary Edition by Michelle Alexander and Karen Chilton.
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Check your local library for a reading lineup this month.