“The Negro History Bulletin” by Dr. Carter G. Woodson

The "Negro History Bulletin,” started in 1937, was a monthly printed newsletter created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson that provided a comprehensive overview of Black history during a time where traditional education prioritized anti-Black sentiments.

Explore Historical Copies
JSTOR has expanded its free read-online access from six to 100 articles per month through June 30, 2021. Use this gracious opportunity to explore past Negro Bulletin Week articles on their website.

About Carter G. Woodson

1875-1950

An educator and scholar, author and historian, Dr. Carter G. Woodson devoted his life to the preservation and education of Black history. His time spent pursuing higher education taught him that the official school curriculum was designed to uphold anti-Black sentiment, only contributing to the inequities in society.

He is most known for establishing Negro History Week in 1926, which led to the appointment of Black History Month that we celebrate (and often commercialize) today. Woodson chose the second week in February because it contained the birthdays of two major influences in Black life at the time: Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14). Related: Born into slavery, Douglass didn’t know his exact birth date, but he chose to celebrate on February 14th (Smithsonian).

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We should emphasize not Negro history, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate and religious prejudice.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson on founding Negro History Week, 1926

But that’s only one of his many contributions. He also founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, an organization committed to “collecting records pertaining to Black America’s past and disseminate the truth about African American history” (Willing to Sacrifice” Carter G. Woodson, the Father of Black History, and the Carter G. Woodson Home, NPS). The organization was later renamed the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History in 1973, and is referred to as ASALH for the remainder of this article.

At the request of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune-Cook College, advisor to President Theodore Roosevelt, and the first woman president of ASALH from 1936 to 1951 (Women’s History), the ASALH published the “Negro History Bulletin,” a monthly newsletter curated by Black leaders that provided a comprehensive overview of Black history. The resource was designed to provide middle and high school teachers with enough context to create lesson plans for their students. The February 1941 issue, for example, highlights Black history in Central and South America (JSTOR). This work was accompanied by a series of Negro History clubs for Black educators and other individuals passionate about learning their history, annual conventions, and celebrations to honor Negro History Week (“Carter G. Woodson, White Philanthropy and Negro Historiography, JSTOR).

Now referred to as the Black History Bulletin, this publication is still produced and distributed by the ASALH. But its mission remains the same. The publication centers articles on “articles on all aspects of Black history, especially those written with a focus on (1) middle school U.S. history; (2) high school U.S. history; (3) teacher preparation U.S. history methods” (ASALH website). You can purchase the latest Black Family Theme Bulletin Vol 83 #2 2020 on their website.

To this day, independent reporting and publishing is still a critical component of preserving and distributing Black history in America. The rise of digital newsletters (like the one you’re reading) makes it easier for journalists, historians, and educators to disseminate useful information directly. Google Docs has proved to be a powerful way to share actionable resources related to protests. Physical bulletins, often referred to as zines, are disseminating critical information on systemic injustices (consider this series on youth incarceration, curated by Mariame Kaba of Project NIA and Lisa Lee of the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum). The Anti-Racism Daily is hosting a series of articles on the importance of investing in new media, written by Ida Yalzadeh. Read the first in the series and subscribe for more.

And it’s necessary because many school curriculums today still fail to provide a comprehensive overview of Black history in the U.S. A study by Southern Poverty Law Center found that most schools are not adequately teaching the history of American slavery (SPLC). Just last year, the Trump administration attempted to ban the work of the 1619 Project and other literature focused on slavery and racism (PBS). The work of Dr. Woodson is a reminder that we have to continue intentionally centering Black history beyond Black History Month.

Reflection Questions

• What Black-led media organizations are you subscribed to? How many Black journalists, educators, historians, etc. are you learning from each month?
• How can you continue to center Black history in your own education each month? For your children, peers, colleagues, etc?