With the current political climate, how do you feel about Black History Month? Perhaps you’re going all in on celebrating and expressing your Blackness. You’re hanging up new Black art on your walls, dusting off your Black Lives Matter signs, and ensuring everyone knows you’re Black and proud.
On the other hand, you may feel less than motivated. Perhaps you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and even hopeless.
Whether you feel like celebrating or hiding away now more than ever, it’s important to celebrate a month meant to celebrate Black people. Even though celebrating involves attending events and parties, it can also mean honoring and appreciating the community.
Here are some ways to give back to the community while celebrating Black History Month.
Reach out to friends and family
The news can often be a distraction. It shows us what’s happening worldwide but not in our communities and neighborhoods. Do you know what’s going on with your friends? When was the last time you spoke with your aunt or cousin?
Take a moment to reach out to your loved ones. Pop over with a home-cooked meal. Offer to watch your nieces and nephews for an afternoon. You can even set up a time to grab a meal with a close friend.
For years, community has been how we, as Black people, overcome life’s hardships.
Support Black-owned businesses
Many Black-Owned businesses have taken a hit, with companies like Target and Walmart cutting their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. You can help show society that Black businesses are still needed by shopping at your local black-owned shop.
Find Black-owned businesses in your area using resources such as Buyblack.org.
Donate to local food banks or food pantries
Food insecurity, not having access to enough food to meet one’s basic needs, dramatically impacts Black communities. In 2023, one out of four Black people struggled with access to adequate food. Fortunately, many communities have started food banks, which store non-perishable foods, and pantries where people can retrieve food from food pantries for free.
You can search for a food bank in your area. Remember a few rules before donating items.
- Ensure items you donate are not passed the “sell by” or “use by date.”
- Donate items that the pantry or bank needs
- Give food that is as nutritious as possible
Volunteer within Black organizations
What is a hobby you enjoy? You may like running, baking, or music. Whatever you like doing, a Black organization probably focuses on that activity.
Search for Black organizations that are involved with things you’re passionate about
You can also reach out to your friends and family and see what organizations they are involved in.
Support your local library
I don’t want to alarm you, but libraries are in trouble. These places of knowledge are balancing challenges such as book bans, the high costs of ebooks, and trying to support the community.
You can support local libraries, especially ones within Black communities, by,
- Volunteering your time to help restock and organize books
- Be an advocate
- Donate books
- Join a committee
Mentor the Black youth
One of the best things you can do for the community is support the next generation. Many organizations out there help guide the youth. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America is about working with the youth and helping them see their potential.
There is also the 100 Black Men organization that has various mentoring initiatives.
Think about programs in your neighborhood that support the youth, and see where you can lend a hand. It could be as simple as giving a motivational speech at a local school.
Document oral stories and history
It’s no surprise that we can’t fully rely on the news. The media is becoming less about reporting the news and more about showcasing the stories that will get clicks and likes. Because the media isn’t always reliable, and with books being banned, it’s vital that we preserve our history.
Start documenting what’s been happening in your communities by recording people’s first-hand accounts, writing down certain events, and recording stories from the elders in your community.
You can upload stories to social media or keep them to be shared within the community.
Check-in on old causes you donated to
Do you remember that cause you donated money around Christmas time? How has that project progressed? Many times, we donate money to organizations and then hope that everything will turn out okay. However, did that cause reach its goal? What is the organization doing with the money? Are there other ways to support the cause?
Take a moment to contact the organization you donated to a while back and see if there are any ways you can offer more support.
Educate yourself
Education has always been the key to Black power and growth. A simple way to increase your knowledge is through books. You can also attend lectures and webinars of Black educators and speakers.
How will you choose to celebrate Black History Month this year? Maybe you’ll try one of the above suggestions or find a practice that is unique to you. No matter what you do, do remember that Black culture is always worth celebrating.
