Black celebrities marked the beginning of Black History Month by sharing the names of prominent figures who helped with the progress of the African-American community on Feb. 1.

According to History.com, the celebratory month is an extension of "Negro History Week," which was started by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1926. It took place the second week in February to highlight the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

For decades to come, schools, communities and colleges observed Negro History Week and used it as a time to share the achievements of Black figures. In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month. He said it was time to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."

The tradition has carried on with leading Black celebrities looking back in time at the African-Americans who paved the way for their success.

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris shared a GIF celebrating Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress, in 1969.

Former President Barack Obama highlighted the accomplishments of baseball player Jackie Robinson, who would have been 100 on Thursday.

Other celebrities shared lesser-known figures, including LGBTQ activist Marsha P. Johnson, and Aaron Douglas, a leading painter during the Harlem Renaissance.

Click through the gallery below to see the African-Americans who helped make America better.

Sen. Kamala Harris

https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1091383877933940736

Shonda Rhimes

https://twitter.com/shondarhimes/status/1091416526337363968

Kalen Allen

https://twitter.com/TheKalenAllen/status/1091419359505874944

Barack Obama

https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1091367581964034048

Vashti Harrison

https://twitter.com/VashtiHarrison/status/1091421854877843456

Ayanna Pressley

https://twitter.com/AyannaPressley/status/1091433700531806209

Carmelo Anthony

https://twitter.com/carmeloanthony/status/1091406906793517056

Congressman David N. Cicilline

https://twitter.com/RepCicilline/status/1091431154656391168

Disney Channel

https://twitter.com/DisneyChannel/status/1091380761943556098

Lauren Underwood

https://twitter.com/LaurenUnderwood/status/1091379321434968064

Gingger Shankar

https://twitter.com/GinggerShankar/status/1091413301588684800

NASA

https://twitter.com/NASAhistory/status/1091395772812328963

Rep. Ilhan Omar

https://twitter.com/Ilhan/status/1091446913499578368

Daymond John

https://twitter.com/TheSharkDaymond/status/1091382970810810368

Julian Castro

https://twitter.com/JulianCastro/status/1091456973122486272

USA Gymnastics

https://twitter.com/USAGym/status/1091432596658184192

Genius

https://twitter.com/Genius/status/1091410867193671680

UNESCO

https://twitter.com/UNESCO/status/1091428174649536513

Viola Davis

https://twitter.com/violadavis/status/1091470258576154625

Girl Scouts

https://twitter.com/girlscouts/status/1091413894013353986