Black History Month 2026

February is Black History Month!

Black History Month, observed each February, originated in 1915 from the efforts of historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who sought to “promote the scientific study of black life and history.” What began as a weeklong celebration has evolved into an annual observance honoring the profound contributions of Black/African Americans across all areas of life in the United States. In 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-244, officially establishing February as National Black History Month and providing an opportunity to:

Commemorate the cultural and historical achievements of Black/African American communities.

Highlight the impact of preventable chronic health conditions that are experienced by Black/African Americans compared to other populations.

Support and advance the health priorities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Administration to improve the health and well-being of all Americans.

This Black History Month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) remains committed to improving the health of Black/African American communities by focusing on the prevention of chronic diseases. By promoting programs, policies, and initiatives designed to enhance the well-being of Black/African Americans, HHS OMH joins our partners in supporting better health for all Americans.

Get Involved

Download, share, and customize the content in our Black History Month Toolkit to meet the unique needs of your audiences.
Follow and tag HHS OMH (@MinorityHealth) on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
Use #PreventChronicDiseases to share how you and your organization are focused on improving the health and well-being of Black/African American communities this Black History Month (#BHM2026).

Featured News and Initiatives

Press Release: HHS Creates Fellowship and Career Fairs for Historically Black Colleges and Universities

In December 2025, HHS announced the launch of the Roy Wilkins Fellowship for students enrolled at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) interested in public service. The fellowship honors Roy Wilkins, longtime leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing his work in advancing equality and strengthening democratic institutions. Learn more about how HHS and the Administration continue building meaningful partnerships with HBCU students and faculty.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Promotes Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs

In April 2025, the President signed an Executive Order that created a White House Initiative on HBCUs to help enhance these institutions’ capacity to deliver a better education to more students. It also established a President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs, made up of leaders from various fields including education, business, and philanthropy, as well as current HBCU presidents. Learn more about how the Administration is dedicated to strengthening HBCUs as centers of education and economic opportunity.

Sickle Cell Disease Awareness

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex group of inherited blood disorders associated with debilitating pain and complications that can affect the entire body. SCD affects about 100,000 people in the United States and more than 90% are non-Hispanic Black/African American. The HHS OMH Sickle Cell Disease webpage has resources and information you can use to spread awareness about SCD and help create supportive communities for individuals with SCD.

Black/African American Population Profile

HHS OMH compiles and maintains data on Black/African American health that includes information on chronic diseases and other health conditions. Use our Black/African American Population Profile to help your efforts in preventing chronic diseases among Black/African Americans.

HHS OMH Knowledge Center Topic Guides

Access curated searches from the HHS OMH Knowledge Center on key topics related to the health of Black/African Americans as well as other minority and tribal populations within the United States and its territories.

HHS OMH Resource Center and Knowledge Center

Looking for information and resources related to Black/African American health? Visit the HHS OMH Resource Center and Knowledge Center, where information specialists can assist you with research on Black/African American health literature, funding opportunities, and more.

#PreventChronicDiseases

Black/African Americans are at higher risk for certain preventable chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Keep reading to learn more about how these conditions are impacting Black/African American health and discover actionable resources for addressing and preventing these chronic conditions. Follow and tag HHS OMH (@MinorityHealth) on X, Instagram, and Facebook, and let us know what tools and resources you find helpful to #PreventChronicDiseases this Black History Month (#BHM2026).

Did you know:

In 2024, Black/African American adults were 26% more likely to diagnosed with hypertension than U.S. adults overall. Hypertension raises the risk of heart disease and is one of the leading causes of death among Black/African American adults.

Poor diet and a lack of physical activity can increase the risk of certain cancers like colon or rectum (colorectal) cancer. From 2019 to 2023, Black/African American men were 37% more likely to die from colorectal cancer, and Black/African American women were 24% more likely to die from colorectal cancer, compared with the U.S. population overall.

In 2024, Black/African American adults were 24% more likely than U.S. adults overall to be diagnosed with diabetes. Black/African Americans also have a higher risk for developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Black/African American adults have the highest rate of obesity compared to other racial and ethnic groups. In 2024, Black/African American adults were 28% more likely than U.S. adults overall to be obese. In 2023, Black/African American high school students were 27% more likely than their peers to be obese.

Lower your risk:

Individuals who eat well tend to live longer and have a lower risk of serious health problems like heart disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Visit RealFood.gov to learn about The New Pyramid, a flexible framework meant to guide better choices to help address and prevent chronic conditions like these and improve overall health. It supports cultural traditions, personal preferences, and different lifestyles while reinforcing one core goal: eat real foods most of the time.