Celebrating Black History Month

Ideas on How You Can Celebrate Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration in the United States that recognizes the history, culture, and contributions of Black Americans every February.  How do people actually celebrate throughout the month? Here are a few ideas we discovered:

Activities & Ideas to Honor Black History Month - Learn

Watch a documentary about the Black experience.
Whether you want a primer on Black history, or you want to dive into a specific niche (like music, film, or activism), there’s almost certainly a documentary out there for you to check out. Here are a few films for recommended viewing this month:

• Summer of Soul (Hulu)

• Let The World See (Hulu)

• The 1619 Project (Hulu)

• More Than A Month (PBS)

• The Loving Story (HBO)

• Freedom Riders (PBS)

• 13th (Netflix)

• Who Killed Malcolm X? (Netflix)

• Is That Black Enough For You? (Netflix)

‍Add some new podcasts to your queue.

Podcasts are a great way to learn new things and hear from diverse voices, whether you’re on the go, doing some housework, on the treadmill — or just lounging! While there are countless amazing podcasts by Black producers and creators, here are a few that stand out for Black History Month listening:

• Historically Black

• 1619

• Black History Buff

• Noire Histoir

• Witness Black History

• Code Switch

• Seizing Freedom

‍Read books written by Black authors.

Whether you want to continue your anti-racism syllabus, enjoy the classic poetry and prose of Audre Lorde, or you’re looking for a new novel, add some Black writers to the top of your reading list ASAP. Here are a few speedy suggestions to get you started:

• “Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019” by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain

• “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto” by Tricia Hersey

• “Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches” by Audre Lorde

• “Grand Union: Stories” by Zadie Smith

• “All about Love: New Visions” by bell hooks

• “Black Futures” by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham

• “Bad Feminist” by Roxane Gay

• “Call Us What We Carry: Poems” by Amanda Gorman

• “Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick: Stories from the Harlem Renaissance” by Zora Neale Hurston

• “Carry on: Reflections for a New Generation” by John Lewis

‍Pick a handful of Black leaders throughout history and learn more about them.
While we’re always in favor of learning more about folks like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., or Malcolm X, we urge you to spend some time this Black History Month learning about lesser-known helpers in history. Some options could include Claudette Colvin, another activist who refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus; Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman in America; or Bayard Rustin, a close advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. and a leader in both civil and gay rights.

‍Visit a Black or African history museum.
Nearly every major city has its own Black history museum or historical site. Even if you can’t find one near you, perhaps there’s a local museum that hosts a collection of Black history archives during the month of February. Make it a priority to visit one of these spots and learn more about Black history on a local scale. Another great option is to check out the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, which tours the country with a diverse, interactive exhibition.

‍Take a virtual museum tour.
If you can’t make it out to a museum, look no further than the virtual information hubs from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum hosts a virtual Searchable Museum, where you can explore a number of exhibitions and stories — all from the comfort of your own home.

‍Learn about Black music history.
So much of modern music is built on Black history. Whether you’re a fan of jazz, hip hop, or even rock ‘n’ roll, you can thank Black musicians and culture makers for the tunes you hold so dearly. Explore the Black Music History Library to find a “living collection of books, articles, documentaries, series, podcasts and more about the Black origins of traditional and popular music dating from the 18th century to present day.”

‍Take Action

Support Black-owned businesses.
We encourage you to shop Black-owned for the fun stuff, but also to find Black retailers and service providers you can support with many of your regular purchases, too. Maybe you can hire a new accountant for tax season, find a new shop to buy your skincare products, or even stop into a local market to shop your produce.

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