Hello and welcome to this day in esoteric political history from radiotopia.

My name is Jody Avergan.

We're trying something a little different this week.

It's sort of a theme week, let's call it our next three episodes are going to be devoted to a few different stories that feel like they get at what we mark in every February which is Black History Month. So stick with me here.

This is Black History Month week here

at this day in esoteric political history.

But look, three episodes that maybe help us

understand how Black History Month came to be and some of the bigger questions about Black history, how it's been studied and celebrated and so forth.

So today, this episode, February 13th, we go to 1924 and look at some of the roots of Black History Month,

which started in many ways with a man named Carter G. Woodson, who came up with the notion

at that point in 1924 of doing Negro History Week,

which would eventually morph into Black History Month.

Woodson, also an incredibly fascinating person who I don't think we've talked about on this show,

son of former slaves, historian, academic, and really one of the early champions of studying and acknowledging the black experience in this country.

So here to discuss Carter Woodson and to kick off Black History Month week on the show.

Two historians, how fitting, who knew?

Nicole Hammer of Columbia and Kelly Carter Jackson of Wellesley. Hello there.

Hello Jody. Hey there Jody can I just say that like Black History Month is like

retail at Christmas for Black Historians.

It is the worst.

I shouldn't say the worst.

It is the busiest, craziest month for me.

...