The Champaign County Association of REALTORS® joins in celebration of February as Black History Month.

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded to a month. Since then, U.S. presidents have proclaimed February as National African-American History Month.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau did you know?

47.8 million
The black population, either alone or in combination with one or more races, in the United States in 2018.

87.9%
The percentage of African-Americans age 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher in 2018.

2.2 million
The number of black military veterans in the United States nationwide in 2018.

121,466
The number of black-owned employer businesses in the United States in 2016.

Cook County, Illinois had the largest black population in 2018, among all counties

CCAR firmly believes in equal opportunity in housing. No person of this country should have the right to rent or purchase shelter of choice abridged because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Furthermore, these rights should not be limited because of existing or desired ethnic, racial, or religious proportions in any defined area.