February 2026 marks the 100th annual celebration of Black History Month, with the theme "A Century of Black History Commemorations." This annual event began with the foundation of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) on September 9, 1915, which was formed to study, educate, and disseminate information on the subject. As Director of the Association, Carter G. Woodson later introduced what was originally called Negro History Week in 1925, and celebrated the first of those the following year.
President Gerald Ford issued a message in 1976 recognizing the first Black History Month, which was later made official by Public Law 99-244 in 1986. The month of February was chosen in order to commemorate the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln, and Civil Rights Leader/Abolitionist Fredrick Douglass. How can you personally honor and learn more about the contributions of Black Americans? Here are some ideas:
- Explore Black History
- Read Books or Stories written by Black authors
- Support Black-Owned Businesses
- Learn about Black leaders
- Organize educational services
- Watch films and documentaries created by Black filmmakers
- Commit to continuing these practices beyond February
We also have a number of SCCLD programs and events planned for the month of February, including the following at our neighborhood libraries.
Adult Book Club meetings:
Mystery Book Club at Saratoga Library (Feb 2)
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club at Saratoga Library (Feb 3)
Book Discussion: Pride and Joy at Gilroy Library (Feb 24)
Children's Book Club meetings:
Freedom Readers Book Club (Grades 5-8) at Cupertino Library (Feb 17)
Changemakers Book Club (Grades 1 and 2) at Cupertino Library (Feb 18)
Mardi Gras Cooking Class (From Gumbo to Greatness):
Mr. Boom Boom's African Drum Circle (all on Feb 28):
Miscellaneous:
Virtual Author Talk: Dr. Lindsey Stewart (Feb 12)
African Drumming at Saratoga Library (Feb 15)
We hope you find something wonderful to celebrate this February! For further reading, visit this list of both classic and modern (adult) books:
