Historian Carter G. Woodson launched Black History Week in 1926 to recognize the significant contributions of African Americans during the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and abolitionist/writer Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14).
Congress expanded it to National Black History Month 50 years later during the nation’s bicentennial celebration at which time then-President Gerald Ford urged the country to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
On Thursday, the Clearlake City Council presented a proclamation declaring Black History Month, with the Board of Supervisors to present a similar proclamation as well as one to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday on Tuesday.
The following facts are possible thanks to the invaluable responses to U.S. Census Bureau surveys.
“We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we measure America’s people, places and economy,” the Census Bureau said.
Did You Know?
50,087,750
The Black or African American alone or in combination population in the United States in 2022.
2,237,044
The Black or African American alone or in combination population in California.
1,199
The Black or African American alone or in combination population in Lake County.
90.1%
The percentage of African Americans age 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher in 2022.
30.3%
The percentage of Black or African Americans with a high school diploma or higher in California in 2022.
34.4%
The percentage of the employed Black population age 16 and older working in management, business, science and arts occupations in 2022.
161,031
The number of Black-owned employer businesses in the United States in 2021.
2.0 million
The number of Black civilian veterans in the United States nationwide in 2022.
954
The number of Black veterans in Lake County.
Facts and history about National Black (African American) History Month
- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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