Celebrating Black History Month
Why is February Black History Month? And how do we celebrate?
And just like that...February is here! Well, almost; tomorrow it will be! Soon after celebrating the new year, much of the United States got a blast of frigid wintery temperatures, and having mostly overcome them, we're barreling toward spring!
February is the shortest month—though this year, we do get one extra day!—and is marked by holidays like Valentine's Day and President's Day. It is also known in its entirety as Black History Month. So, what should you know about this month-long celebration?
Black History Month was first celebrated in 1970 at Kent State University after being proposed the previous year. Every year, the
Association for the Study of African American Life and History chooses a theme: 2024's is African Americans and the Arts, focusing on everything from visual and performing arts to literature, music, filmmaking, and fashion. The theme is an attempt to shed light on the vast contributions Black people across the Americas have made to the arts, an impact that is often overlooked. Art movements like the Harlem Renaissance, the creation of hip-hop, and Afrofuturism are all areas of focus for the month.
Black History Month stands out from other commemorative days like Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January and Juneteenth in June, as it focuses on the breadth of the African diaspora as opposed to focusing on individual leaders or days celebrating specific moments like the abolition of slavery.
It is also a time to remember the extent of the African diaspora and that economic and social justice issues that Black people in the United States faced both historically and into the present day are prevalent in other countries as well. Black History Month recognizes their contributions throughout North and South America, as well as in places like England, Ireland, and the rest of Europe.
Black History Month presents us all with the opportunity to learn about the Black experience while also supporting Black businesses and artists who still face discrimination and other systemic issues. Happy Black History Month!
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