In honor of Black History Month the Twin City Black History Association hosted a parade in downtown Texarkana Saturday.
In 1926 Carter Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be “Negro History Week.”
The second week of February was chosen because the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and of Frederick Douglass on February 14, both of which dates Black communities had celebrated together since the late 19th century.
In 1976 as part of the United States Bicentennial, the informal expansion of Negro History Week to Black History Month was officially recognized by the U.S. government.
This was the 24th year for the parade. There were floats with different groups throwing candy to kids lining the streets. Bands from local high schools and the Texarkana, Arkansas Fire Department also participated in the parade.
