Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering.
Throughout this series, we have covered some parts of Black History in celebration of Black History Month 2024. To wrap up this series, we want to revisit some key points.
Celebrating in a Healthy and Respectful Way
Black history is rich, important, and beautiful. When speaking about Black culture in the United States, we acknowledge that Black Americans are both African Americans and Black immigrants from many countries of the world. We celebrate a rich history, which has paved the way for other minority groups in the United States and has helped bridge inequities for centuries.
While Black History Month is a month to learn, we also recognize that it is a time for Black Americans to celebrate themselves, in safe spaces, and in any way that is comfortable to the community.
Through this, we acknowledge the importance of not invading Black spaces in an effort to learn more, and assume the responsibility ourselves in an effort to build anti-racist practices into our daily lives.
Celebration Through the Arts
While we were not able to cover all of the arts, we covered music, literature, and cuisine in this short series.
Please consider incorporating the curriculum we shared in the beginning of the series in your own business and sharing some of the children’s books shared with the children under your care. You can also show support through cuisine, purchasing a cookbook, and listening to music.
A fun fact is that the greatest and fastest growing export in the Caribbean is music, and streaming songs directly translates into payment for many of these artists. Many, though not all, of these artists immigrate to the U.S. after finding commercial success.
Inclusion Starts Now
Inclusion and anti-racism begin at an early age, and Black History Month is the perfect time to showcase the diversity and beauty of the Black community.
We hope that you have enjoyed reading the articles that we shared and encourage all to continue learning about the rich history of African Americans and Black Americans throughout the year.
“Unbowed by the forces of hate and undaunted as they fought for centuries against slavery, segregation, and injustice, Black Americans have held a mirror up to our Nation, allowing our country to confront hard truths about who we are and pushing us to live up to our founding ideals. They have helped redeem the soul of our Nation, ensuring the promises in our founding documents were not just words on a page but a lived reality for all people. In the process, the vibrancy of Black history and culture has enriched every aspect of American life.”
The announced theme of Black History Month 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts”, with a focus on the visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary, and other forms of cultural expression.
In our series, we will cover music, literature, and cuisine.