It's African-American History Month

The U.S. Postal Service will dedicate a stamp February 2 honoring African-American religious leader Richard Allen. It will be the 39th stamp in the Black Heritage series, which also has honored leaders such as Robert Robinson Taylor, Thurgood Marshall and Martin Luther King Jr. 

African-American History Month, observed each February, is a time to celebrate the heritage of African-Americans and their contributions to the nation. 

The national observance of African-American History Month began in 1926 when Carter G. Woodson, founder of the organization now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, promoted Negro History Week. In 1976, the week was extended to a one-month commemoration. Today, it’s designated as African-American History Month or Black History Month.