Carter G. Woodson was an African American author, the founder of the Association of the Study of African Life and History (ASALH), a historian and journalist. He was a scholar in the study of the history of the African Diaspora and African American history. Woodson was a participant in the movement of Afrocentrism. He launched the precursor to Black History Month, which was Negro History Week. Carter Woodson was born the son of former slaves. He was born poor but the family worked hard, which left little time for pursing education. However, Woodson didn’t enter high school until he was twenty, but made up for lost time by excelling in class. He then went on to the University of Chicago and completed his PhD in history at Harvard University. He was the 2nd African American to earn a doctorate. Woodson was affiliated with the NAACP branch in Washington, D.C. He devoted his life to historical research. Black Americans considered Woodson to be their most important community leaders, one who discovered the lost history for blacks in America. Carter G. Woodson is still highly respected. In 1926, Woodson received the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Spingarn Medal. He is remembered for writing, “The Mis-Education of the Negro.”
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Church Affiliation:First Baptist Church
Role in the Movement:Carter G. Woodson was an African American author, the founder of the Association of the Study of African Life and History (ASALH).
Birth Place:New Canton, VA
Born Date:December 19, 1875
Deceased Date:April 3, 1950
Place Lived as Adult:Washington, D.C.
Church Location:Winono, W. VA