Since the 1970s, the month of February has been designated as the time to celebrate and commemorate Black history. Schools, television networks and private organizations use this month to increase awareness and to educate people about the rich history of Black Americans.
There are so many ways to celebrate! We challenge you to try these 10 ideas for Black History Month.
- Support a Black-owned business. Many small businesses are hurting now. Show your support for a business in your community that is owned or operated by a Black person, partnership or family.
- Visit a Black- or civil rights-history museum. For local Topekans during the pandemic, you can safely visit the Brown v. Board mural.
- Make a reading list of great books by Black authors.
- Read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
- Watch these student-made documentaries on notable African Americans.
- Volunteer for a Black charity. You can find a full list here.
- Look through James Karales’s photos of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights marches and discuss their significance.
- Donate to a racial justice or educational cause, such as The Sentencing Project, Thurgood Marshall College Fund or the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
- Explore Black history through the thousands of sources in the National Archives. This photo series of Chicago in the 1970s is a great place to start.
- Tune into the free educational program and performance on Black history and culture by the Chicago Children’s Choir. The event will livestream on Facebook and YouTube on Feb. 25.
Black history is rich, diverse, and, unfortunately, often painful. Use this list of ideas and activities to enrich your knowledge of Black culture and history this February.