Did you know the YMCA played a meaningful role in the beginnings of what we now celebrate as Black History Month?
In 1915, Carter G. Woodson, often called the Father of Black History, traveled to Chicago to attend a national commemoration marking the 50th anniversary of emancipation. The multiweek celebration brought together thousands of African Americans to reflect on progress since the end of slavery and to honor the richness of Black history and culture.
Inspired by what he experienced, Woodson gathered with a small group of leaders at the Wabash Avenue YMCA. There, they founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History — an organization created to ensure African American history was researched, preserved and shared. That work soon led to the creation of Negro History Week, which later expanded into Black History Month.
Woodson believed that understanding Black history was essential to shaping a more just and inclusive future. He once said, “We are going back to that beautiful history, and it is going to inspire us to greater achievements.” His vision went beyond a single week or month, calling for a deeper understanding of African American history that extended far beyond the era of enslavement.
Today, the YMCA is proud of its connection to this important legacy and continues its commitment to inclusion, belonging and community impact — celebrating the enduring contributions of African Americans to our shared history and to the communities we serve every day.