Watch CBS News

How a former enslaved person helped make Black History Month a national celebration

President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment and abolished slavery on February 1, 1865. That date would eventually lead to the Black History Month we celebrate each year, thanks in part to the efforts of a former enslaved person, Richard Robert Wright Sr. Michelle Miller explores how Wright's own life story is just what this month is meant to honor.
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.