Carter G. Woodson, known as the “Father of Black History,” wanted the study of past Black life to have a significant impact. He once stated, “We are going back to that beautiful history and it is going to inspire us to greater achievements.”   In 1915, Woodson, a University of Chicago alumnus, arrived in Chicago to attend a national celebration of the 50th anniversary of emancipation sponsored by the state of Illinois. Inspired by this three-week celebration of the accomplishments of Black people in the U.S., Dr. Woodson met with a small group at the historic Wabash Avenue YMCA in Chicago and founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now called the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH).  The group who helped form the ASNLH would spend their nights at the Wabash Avenue Y, which in those days served as an important Black […]