Early life
Born in New Canton in 1875 to formerly enslaved parents, Woodson worked in coal mines before earning a doctorate in history from Harvard.
Career
He founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and launched Negro History Week in 1926, the forerunner of Black History Month.
Major achievements
He authored "The Mis-Education of the Negro" and pioneered the scholarly study of African American history.
Legacy
Woodson's work established Black history as a discipline and gave rise to Black History Month.
References
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