Black History Month (BHM) is finally here. This is a time to celebrate Blackness in the fullest capacity and really dive into the culture. Even though Blackness can’t be compiled into just one month, here are some fun things to do to help maximize your BHM!
Visit a Black landmark, museum, or monument. There are plenty of sites around the US that are open under COVID-19 safe regulations and available for a drive-by. Museums like The Center for Civil & Human Rights, The Legacy Museum, The Trap Music Museum, The Culture Experience and the Martin Luther King Home are great options. There are plenty of things to see and so much rich history to learn about in the lives of Black people.
Try buying Black. There is a multitude of Black businesses to buy from. No matter how large or how small a business is, buying Black is always a plus. Brands like Laquan Smith, The Honeypot and KNC Beauty are examples that Black business is everywhere. Try challenging yourself to research some Black-owned businesses near you and buy Black for a week.
Rock all Black designers and collaborations. Now, this may be a difficult one, but with the right research, it may work. Check your wardrobe for Black brands or collaborations and make it a look! Try all black brands in your hair, on your face, on your body, and on your feet. Find Black-owned drip and rock It from head to toe. Try it!
Try traditional Black recipes. Now, Black food is very diverse in nature. It would be unfair to say that Black people only eat one way. Soul food, Caribbean Food, and African Cuisine are just a few of the foods Black people share. Try one that you’ve never tried before and see what it’s like. There are also vegan options for those that can’t eat meat!
Go on a Black film binge. Black films are everywhere around us. Love and Basketball, Do the Right Thing, Malcolm and Marie; the list goes on! Black films can be streamed just about anywhere!
Explore Black media. Along with the film, there is a multitude of other Black mediums of media that exist. Music, art, and books are excellent parts of the Black expression. Black people are some of the most creative and expressive people in the world. Media made for and by Black people reflects just that.
Black History Month is one of the many wonders of the Black experience. Even though all that Black people are cannot be shortened into one month, it’s still fun to celebrate culture. If you are Black, be proud of all that your blackness is 24/7, and don’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone. If you aren’t Black, be a loyal ally and genuinely make an effort to learn Black History – not appropriate it. This time is a time of celebration and reflection of all that Black culture is, so enjoy it!