The month of February marks Black History Month. In 1926, Harvard scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson organized the first Black History Week. The second week of February was chosen to include the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two fundamental African-American supporters. Over time, Black History Week evolved into Black History Month. Throughout each February, Americans honor African-Americans from the past and the present, in additon to those who will shape the future.

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Samuel Dalembert Tours National Liberty Musem
On February 1, as part of the 76ers initiative to celebrate Black History Month, Dalembert will tour the National Liberty Museum's Quest For Equality: African American Pioneers in the Sport of Basketball exhibit with 15 kids from the Covenant House Pennsylvania as well as kids from the Philadelphia Police Athletic League. "The Quest for Equality" features period documents, photos, uniform items and more that illustrate the struggle for civil rights throughout the history of basketball in the United States. The exhibit which runs until Feb. 6, is presented by Southwest Airlines, the NBA and the Philadelphia 76ers

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Radio One Philadelphia Salutes Billy King
76ers President Billy King has been chosen by Radio One Philadelphia Executive Management team to be honored as part of their Black History Month program, entitled Black Faces in High Places. Radio One Philadelphia is saluting those who have personal and professional commitments toward the advancement of Philadelphia's community and corporate sectors. King is one of seven remarkable people whose achivements will be honored this year as part of Black Faces in High Places. Their achievements will be saluted at a Black History luncheon and all month long on Radio One's three radio stations and their three websites-WPHI 100.3, WPPZ 103.9 and WRNB 107.9.

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The 14th Annual African American Children's Book Fair
The 14th Annual African American Children's Book Fair will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2006, Community College Of Philadelphia, 17th Spring Garden Street, The Gymnasium, 1:00-3:00PM. Join in the fun at one of the largest African American book events for children preschool to young adult. Best-selling authors and illustrators will read and sign copies of their books. Plenty of freebies, games and prizes. The book fair will feature R. Gregory Christie, Tokunbo Adelekan, Bryan Collier, Quincy Troupe, Christopher Myers, Angelia Nelson, Colin Bootman, Becky Birtha, Tonya Bolden, Dana Davidson, Mister Mann Frisby and Talani Mathis.

The African American Children's Book Recommends the following Award Winning Books

ROSA - Written By Nikki Giovanni and Illustrated by Bryan Collier (Henry Holt & Co. $16.95)

THE CHAMP- Written By Tonya Bolden illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (Alfred A. Knopf - $17.95)

GRANDMAMA'S PRIDE - Written by Becky Birtha and illustrated by Colin Bootman (Albert Whitman & Co. - $16.95)

PORTRAITS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HEROES - Written by Tonya Bolden paintings by Ansel Pitcairn

POWERFUL WORDS - Written by Wade Hudson illustrated by Sean Quarles (Scholastic - $19.95)

JAMAL'S BUSY DAY - Written by Wade Hudson illustrated by George Ford (Just Us Book - $6.95)

DAD, JACKIE, AND ME written by Myron Uhlberg and illustrated by Colin Bootman (Peachtree - $11.53)

WAKE UP OUR SOULS written by Tonya Bolden (Harry N. Abrams - $15.72)

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African American Notable Firsts (courtesy of the National Liberty Museum)

1902 First white basketball League is integrated when an African American plays in the New England Basketball League. ( Harry “Bucky” Lew)

Bill Russell Joe Murphy/Getty

1909 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Formed

1910 First black barnstorming team, the Montcello Rifles, founded by Cumberland Posey

1930-31 First African American named All-American player (George Gregory, Columbia University

1943-44 First African American plays in the Big Ten Conference (Frank Whittaker, university of Chicago

1948 First African American named to United States Olympics basketball team (Don Barksdale)President Harry Truman signs executive order to integrate the military

1950 First African American plays in an NBA game (Earl Lloyd)

1952-53 First black college competes in the NAIA tournament (Tennessee State)

1954 United States Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka rules that racial segregation is unconstitutional overturning Plessy v. Ferguson

1955 Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama and sparks the historical Montgomery Bus Boycott.

1961 First African American student enrolled at the University of Mississippi (James Meredith)

Wayne Embry Otto Greule Jr/Getty

1963 First time that a majority of African American participate in an NCAA championship game. (Loyola University, Chicago starts four; University of Cincinnati starts three.)

1964 Civil Rights Bill passed

1965 Voting Right Act signed

1966 First time in NCAA Finals history that an all black starting five team defeats an all-white starting five team (Texas Western defeats Kentucky)First African American NBA coach named (Bill Russell, Boston Celtics). He serves as a player-coach for three seasons, winning two NBA championship

1967 Thurgood Marshall becomes the First African American United States Court Justice

1968 First African American referee in the NBA (Ken Hudson)

1971-72 First African American bench coach named (Earl Lloyd, Detroit Pistons)

1972 First African American NBA General Manager named (Wayne Embry). He is the first black General Manager in professional sports.

1972 First African American owner/coach elected to Basketball Hall of Fame as a significant contributor to the sport (Bob Douglass, New York Renaissance)

John Thompson Ron Turenne/Getty

1972 Title IX legislation prohibits sexual discrimination and mandates funding equity for women in sports in all federal funded educational facilities.

1972 First African American head coach to win a NCAA Division I championship (John Thompson, Georgetown University)

1997 First Season of the newly established WNBA, the sister league to the NBA

2002 First African American owner of an NBA franchise team (Robert Johnson, Charlotte Bobcats)