Some people don’t like being the “token Black friend”. In my experience, if you don’t have any Black friends and you’d like to change that…and have tons of questions…I don’t mind being your Black friend. “Let me be your Black friend!” I once told someone. To this day, whenever he has questions about how to support and uplift the experiences of African Americans, he calls me, and I gladly take his phone calls!
So, how can you celebrate Black History Month? As your new, virtual Black friend (as loosely as the term “friend” is used on Facebook that is…), lemme help you.
- Don’t ONLY celebrate the lives and contributions of Black people in the month of February. Honor our lives and experiences all throughout the year.
*Pro tip: Set out to learn about the life of one Black inventor or trailblazer each month. - During this month in particular, read books by Black authors and articles by Black writers to hear from us about what our experience is like in the United States. Check out books at your local library and buy books online and at your local bookstores.
*Pro tip: See if your community has a Black owned bookstore or host a 4 week book club with friends in order to read through a book or series of articles from Black writers. Book suggestion: I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown. - Visit museums that detail African American history. The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. is excellent. There are other museums around the U.S. and even in Canada that tell our stories.
*Pro tip: Schedule a tour at the museum or even schedule a walking tour of a historically Black neighborhood. - Give to an HBCU (Historically Black College or University). Yes, give money and scholarships to a local HBCU. These institutions have been critically important for the African American community.
*Pro tip: Work with your place of business to setup a scholarship for students at the HBCU closest to your city – even if the closest one is 1,000 miles away. - Visit a Black Church. This institution holds such great importance for our community. This is the place where many of us first felt that we were important…where many of us gave our first speeches or played a role in our first dramas. The sense of community that many of us find in the church will describe a feeling that cannot be replicated – peace. PBS did a fabulous documentary about The Black Church that you can still check out.
*Pro tip: Visit a Black church in your area and speak with the pastor or one of the ministers at the end of the service. Bonus: Call the church office or visit the church website to find out if there is a Black History Program happening this month that you can attend! - Purchase from Black-owned businesses online and even local shops and restaurants in your community. Listen, whether it’s a piece of art, a delicious vegan meal, ice cream, music, or a class – support Black business owners!
*Pro tip: Use your favorite online search engine to find a Black-owned business nearby and take your family or friends with you! - Watch Black films, movies, and documentaries. No, I’m not talking about watching a movie with a Black person in the cast and the rest of the characters are of a different race. Watch works that highlight the Black experience. You can visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) website for The 100 best Black / urban movies of all time. Also, check out the 21 Best Black Documentaries and Docuseries on Black History by Parade.
*Pro tip: Attend a Black film festival in your city or organize a movie night with your family and friends and watch a documentary and hold a discussion afterwards. - Get your kids involved. This is critical if you have kids. Don’t leave them out of the conversation. Bring them along for the journey so that they meet people different from them if they are not Black and so that they learn about history and the current struggles. It will open their eyes and help them to become more well-rounded. Continually interacting with Black families, getting involved with Black-led organizations, and getting to know Black people will help! Don’t be a “volunteer;” be an active participant!
*Pro tip: Involve your kids in all of the tips listed in this article!
Note: Doing all of these things won’t all of a sudden make you “woke” or “everyone’s friend”. These ideas and strategies will however open your eyes to what other people are like which will in turn, hopefully, make you a better person.
Happy Black History Month!
