While we should always celebrate and remember our roots, Black History Month is intended to recognize the significant contributions made by people with African heritage. Earlier this month we shared with you some podcasts, movies, and books that you could read during Black History Month. Within this article, we’re taking a look at different ways to educate ourselves, support, and celebrate black heritage.
Notable Achievements in the Past Year
Let’s start by acknowledging ten notable people of color and their achievements from this past year:
- Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President, the highest office ever held by a black, South Asian American woman in the United States.
- Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, became Georgia’s first Black senator.
- Kizzmekia Corbett, a viral immunologist and research fellow at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is the lead scientist on the team that developed the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.
- Victor J. Glover, Jr., is the first Black astronaut to live and work at the International Space Station for an extended stay.
- Amanda Gorman, at just 22, is the youngest inaugural poet in United States history.
- Rashida Jones is now president of MSNBC and is the first Black executive to run a major television news network.
- Noah Harris is the first Black man to be student body president at Harvard.
- Nia DaCosta became the first Black woman to direct a Marvel film: Captain Marvel II.
- Jason Wright is the first Black president of a National Football League team, the Washington Football Team.
- Bozoma Saint John was hired as Netflix chief marketing officer becoming the first Black C-suite executive at the company.
Evaluate Inclusivity at Work and at Home
Take time to evaluate diversity and inclusion within your workplace. Then within your team or organization, to take steps to try to influence change to help make your work environment more inclusive. Alternately, at home you could educate your child on ways to be more inclusive of others at school.
Support Black-Owned Small Businesses
Take some time to research who the black-owned small businesses around you. Then, make it a point to support those businesses as often as you can while also encouraging others to do the same. While you may begin your research during the month of February, use this information to support these businesses year-round.
Volunteer at or Donate to Inclusive Organizations
Consider supporting your local NAACP or choose to volunteer or donate to a local community organization. You might look into organizations that exclusively support people of color. Another possibility would be to select an organization that works on issues that impact people from all different backgrounds but perhaps disproportionately affects black Americans.
Black Girls Code is one example of an organization whose goal is to increase the number of women of color in the digital space by empowering girls of color ages 7 to 17 to become innovators in STEM fields, leaders in their communities, and builders of their own futures through exposure to computer science and technology. Donate to Black Girls Code.
One of the most impactful ways to participate in democracy is through voting, but many people, particularly in minority communities, face barriers to having their voices heard. Fair Fight is an organization that aims to end voter suppression, make sure everyone can access their constitutional right to vote, and fight for fairer elections. Donate to Fair Fight.
Thank you for allowing us to share with you different ways that you can educate, support, and honor black heritage through our celebration of Black History Month.