February is from the Latin term Februarius, meaning to either 'Purify' or 'Atone'. Many people don't know that Negro History week was established in February, 1926. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), an African-American writer who wrote the book Mis-Education of the Negro, and is also known as the "Father of Black History," said that he had chosen the month of February for reasons of "tradition" and "reform."