PROCLAMATION · 2026-02496 · 91 FR 5661 · Executive Office of the President

National Black History Month, 2026

in effect

status verified 2026-07-28 00:31:27

What it is

Proclamation 11008 is a presidential proclamation signed by President Donald J. Trump on February 3, 2026, formally designating February 2026 as National Black History Month. It calls on public officials, educators, librarians, and all Americans to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

What it changes

The proclamation establishes no new law, regulation, or enforceable requirement; it is a symbolic declaration continuing an annual tradition. It frames Black history as inseparable from American history broadly, rather than as a distinct or separate narrative. The document references two previously authorized actions: the National Garden of American Heroes statuary park (previously authorized, not created by this proclamation) and an Executive Order on Historically Black Colleges and Universities signed in the prior spring. No deadlines, funding levels, or regulatory mechanisms are created or altered by this proclamation itself.

Who is affected

Public officials, educators, and librarians are specifically called upon to organize observances, though compliance is not legally required. Members of the general public are invited to participate in commemorative activities during February 2026.

Signed 2026-02-03 · Published 2026-02-06 · Effective — · Federal Register entry ↗