A method of driving backlight of a display apparatus and the display apparatus are provided. The method includes: generating a control pulse configured to drive a backlight unit, the control pulse including: a first high pulse section configured to turn on the backlight unit; and an afterimage removal section configured to remove a frame afterimage; and inputting the control pulse into the backlight unit to alternately turn on and off the backlight unit, wherein the afterimage removal section comprises at least one second high pulse section having smaller duty than duty of the first high pulse section.