Feb. 1 marks the first day of Black History Month, and suddenly the study of the Black experience may feel like an act of defiance.

Gerald Ford in 1976 became the first president to issue a message recognizing February as Black History Month. Since then, presidents have made annual proclamations marking the month as a celebration of Black history, culture and education.

Black History Month wasn’t always a monthlong celebration. In February 1926, historian and author Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week. It was a weeklong celebration in an effort to teach people about African-American history and the contributions of Black people.

Ryan, the White House correspondent for The Grio, asked Karoline Leavitt at this term's first press briefing whether Black History Month is still on in a second Trump administration. The answer was unclear,

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has implemented a new policy that effectively ends the observance of cultural awareness months, a move that has left many in Jacksonville, particularly military personnel and local leaders,

Maryland political leaders stepped up their support Saturday for Black History Month in the midst of an onslaught of attacks on diversity initiatives by President Donald Trump. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore,