Black History Month – What to Watch, Read & Who to Follow
Each year, the month of February marks Black History Month. Black History Month is a celebration dedicated to taking time to teach Black history, amplify Black voices, celebrate the heritage and history of Black people and advocate for ongoing change, because Black history is our history and what affects one of us, affects all of us.
During this month we will be dedicating time to educating ourselves and our community on Black individuals in the workplace, Black history, as well as sharing some of our favourite resources in the blog post below!
1. Do the Work & Educate Yourself
Relying on Black voices to educate you on Black History should not be the norm and can be damaging. We encourage you to take initiative and interest in Black History on your own time or encourage your organization to facilitate learning sessions surrounding Black History and DE&I.
Bloom Academy – Founded by Avery Francis – is a great place to start for educational content and courses on DE&I for individuals and organizations.
Learn more about how Black History Month came to be here.
2. Listen to and Uplift Black Voices
Uplifting and listening to Black voices is of the utmost importance all year long. Here are some resources that you can watch, read and share with your community.
Watch
Harriet: Based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, HARRIET tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker: Meet America’s first empire-building, barrier-breaking, self made female millionaire.
Selma: The story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people – a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and led to President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Read
Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey, Founder of the Nap Ministry
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad
Four Hundred Souls by Ibram X. Kendi & Keisha N. Blain
Follow
@leanin for an inclusive space challenging workplace bias and inequities
@oludaraadeeyo for inspiration, affirmations, and books for Black women and girls
@therapyforblackgirls for mental health resources tailored to Black women and girls
@blackjoydigest for a safe space to celebrate and express Black joy
3. Discover Local Events in Your Community
Take it upon yourself to research local events and resources that are being offered in your community during Black History Month and beyond, and mark your calendar.
4. Donate When Able
We understand that not everyone is able to donate to these organizations, and if that is the case, please encourage your community to do so if they are able – every little bit counts.
If you are able and looking to donate, these organizations are a great place to start:
Black Visions Collective: A Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence through building strategic campaigns, investing in Black leadership, and engaging in cultural and narrative organizing.
Black Lives Matter: A global organization in the US, UK and Canada whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
We are asking our community, that alongside us, you continue expanding your minds and remain open to learning more about Black history – especially from Black voices. Listen to and believe their stories. Celebrate Black excellence. Uplift & amplify the community.
Although Black History Month comes around only once a year, we strongly encourage you to continue these actions year-round. Learning (and un-learning) does not happen overnight – we all have a part to play. Ask yourself this – what commitments to continued learning are you as an individual making?
We hope you found the above resources useful to your learning journey. Share this post with friends and family and be sure to seek out additional resources on your own too!