Finding ways to support and celebrate Black History Month is more important than ever in our current political climate. And even though it may not seem like it at first glance, it’s actually pretty easy to get the whole family involved and make it a monthlong affair of celebrating Black excellence, history, and justice.
Let’s take a look at six ways you can support and honor Black History Month.
1. Find Out What’s Happening in Your City for Black History Month
One of the many cool things about discovering what’s happening around your own city is that there are usually loads of different things you’ll find that you can get the whole family involved in. And when there’s something special happening like Black History Month, there will usually be quite a few events you can take part in.
Some of the best options are checking out the websites for your local libraries and community centers and seeing what events they might have coming up to support Black History Month. You might even find that some of these events can be attended online, like lectures from local educators and authors, and you can all pull up a seat, have a listen, and discuss everything you’ve taken in with the family afterward.
2. Fill Your Streaming Queues With Shows and Films Featuring Black Talent
You’re almost always looking for something new and interesting to watch on Netflix or Hulu, right? Black History Month is the ideal time to fill up those queues with shows and movies that feature Black casts, writers, and storytellers.
For yourself, you might want to check out Emmy-nominated The Underground Railroad on Prime from Academy Award-winner Barry Jenkins. There’s also the award-winning When They See Us on Netflix from powerhouse creator Ava DuVernay.
When it comes to kid-friendly television and movies, Disney Pixar’s Soul is a really fun watch with really great music and lessons. And for the older ones who love everything superhero-related, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is sure to get their blood pumping.
3. Get Books From Black Authors on Your Bookshelves
It’s such a valuable thing to be able to take in the diverse stories of Black individuals because it can really help shed light on different perspectives and establish what it can feel like to experience life as a Black person.
One book that has been incredibly popular over this past year is The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Or if you’re feeling something from one of the most well-known and beloved Black voices of our time, Song of Solomon or Beloved, written by Nobel Prize-winning Toni Morrison, are two classic picks.
Black History Month is also a prime opportunity to take up reading books from Black authors with your children as well. Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman, the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate, is a beautiful pick. And Ambitious Girl by Meena Harris is sure to give any child a new sense of confidence.
4. Donate Money to Black-Led Organizations and Charities
There are always incredible organizations out there that need your attention, and Black History Month is the perfect time to do a little research and discover some charities that work to help the Black population.
There are a ton of great charities to choose from, but if you’re thinking of civil rights and organizations that work to protect the constitutional rights and freedoms of Black people, check out the Equal Justice Initiative or the ACLU.
Or if something like education and sustainable training opportunities for Black teens and young adults sounds like a cause you want to support, check out Rainier Scholars and the Page Education Foundation.
5. Find Black-Owned Businesses and Support Them
One thing that you can quite easily do to help stimulate your local economy is check out some local Black-owned businesses in your area.
Whether you’re headed into a bookshop that’s under Black ownership to buy some books or getting your hair cut and colored by a Black hairstylist, it all helps from an economic standpoint and works to put money in the pockets of Black individuals in your city.
You can also go online and check out various Instagram and Etsy pages brought to you by Black business owners for everything from jewelry to fine art.
6. Remember That Anti-racist Behavior and Support of Black People Should Last the Entire Year
One thing that’s crucial to comprehend during Black History Month is that all of the support, education, and celebration of Black excellence that happens throughout the month of February needs to be a lifelong endeavor.
To just pick up a book written by a Black author or seek out Black-owned businesses for one month of the year simply is not enough. It’s certainly the start of a very worthy pursuit, but if you’re not striving to continually look at the Black experience and the racial injustice and inequality and beyond that affects large portions of the population every day, then it doesn’t really work, right?
Anti-racist behaviors require persistent education, conscious efforts, and courage to call out racist behaviors and the inequality around you. You also need to be able to consistently come at the world from a place of empathy, compassion, and allyship with the Black community. And not just throughout the month of February, but forever.
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