Carter G. Woodson National Park Service Photo
“What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hatred, and religious prejudice.” – Carter G. Woodson on Black History Week
Ever wonder why we celebrate Black History Month in February? It all traces back to Carter G. Woodson, a scholar, educator, and historian who is widely known as the “Father of Black History.” But did you know that before he made history, Woodson lived and worked right here in Fayette County, West Virginia?
From Coal Mines to Classrooms: Woodson’s Fayette County Story
Born in 1875 to formerly enslaved parents in Virginia, Carter G. Woodson and his family moved to West Virginia, like many African Americans of that time, seeking better opportunities in the booming railroad and coal mining industries of the New River Gorge. His family settled on a farm, where he helped his father in the fields.
Determined to get an education, Woodson worked in several coal mines across the region, including those in Kaymoor and Nuttallburg, to save money for school. While working alongside Black miners, he heard countless stories of their struggles, resilience, and contributions—stories that were often left out of history books. These experiences fueled his passion for education and his mission to ensure African American history was properly recorded and celebrated.
A Passion for Education
After six years in the mines, Woodson had saved enough money to enroll in Douglass High School in Huntington, West Virginia—one of the few Black high schools in the state. He graduated in just two years and returned to Fayette County to teach at a school in Winona, which had been founded by Black miners to educate their children. The school was just five miles from the very mines where Woodson once worked.
Woodson’s academic journey took him far beyond West Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Berea College in Kentucky in 1903 and later traveled the world as both a teacher and student. In 1912, he became the second African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University, making history as the first person of enslaved parents to achieve this academic milestone.
The Birth of Black History Month
Recognizing the lack of representation of African Americans in history books, Woodson took action. In 1915, he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, an organization dedicated to documenting Black history.
In 1926, he launched Negro History Week, choosing the second week of February to honor the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. This observance gained momentum and eventually expanded into what we now recognize as Black History Month.
A Legacy That Lives On
Carter G. Woodson passed away in 1950, but his impact continues to shape how we learn about and celebrate African American history. His dedication to education, his time spent in Fayette County, and his work in the New River Gorge played a critical role in inspiring his life’s mission.
Today, the National Park Service honors his legacy at the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., and his influence can still be felt in Fayette County, where the coal miners’ stories he once listened to remain an essential part of our region’s rich history.
As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s remember that it all started with a man who believed that history should tell the full story of all people—not just a select few.
Sources:
- Carter G. Woodson, New River Gorge National Park Service
- National Park Service – Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
- West Virginia Division of Culture and History
This version is formatted as a blog post, engaging and educational while highlighting Fayette County’s role in Woodson’s journey. Let me know if you’d like any adjustments!