A Celebration of Black Resistance
When African-American historian, scholar, educator, and author Carter G. Woodson saw how Black people were underrepresented in history books, he was determined to correct this marginalization. His devotion to showcasing the contributions of Black Americans led to the creation of “Negro History Week”, which first launched in the second week of February, 1926—coinciding with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
In 1976, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) officially made the shift to “Black History Month”. For decades, the U.S. has designated February as Black History Month to celebrate and honor the achievements of Black Americans. This year’s theme is “Black Resistance.”
“Black people have had to consistently push the United States to live up to its ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all. Systematic oppression has sought to negate much of the dreams of our griots, like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, and our freedom fighters, like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Septima Clark, and Fannie Lou Hamer fought to realize. Black people have sought ways to nurture and protect Black lives, and for autonomy of their physical and intellectual bodies through armed resistance, voluntary emigration, nonviolence, education, literature, sports, media, and legislation/politics. Black led institutions and affiliations have lobbied, litigated, legislated, protested, and achieved success.”— ASALH
There is much more progress that still needs to be made to achieve systemic equality for Black people in the U.S. Learning about the wealth of contributions made by Black people who have shaped and who continue to shape the social and political fabric of this country is critical and we want to celebrate that. We’re grateful for the leadership and expertise of Black activists, lawmakers, artists, and more who inspire and remind us to be persistent in the fight for equality.
We strongly believe in celebrating and highlighting Black businesses, authors, musicians, and creators year round. Buy from Black-owned businesses, read anti-racist literature and books written by Black authors, and continually seek out organizations that support Black communities. This post outlines some of our favorite ideas and resources to get you started.
“By resisting, Black people have achieved triumphs, successes, and progress as seen in the end of chattel slavery, dismantling of Jim and Jane Crow segregation in the South, increased political representation at all levels of government, desegregation of educational institutions, the passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964, the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History in DC and increased and diverse representation of Black experiences in media. Black resistance strategies have served as a model for every other social movement in the country, thus, the legacy and importance of these actions cannot be understated.”
— ASALH
Read more about the 2023 Black History Month Theme
African-American historian, scholar, educator and author Carter G. Woodson. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty.
1963. More than 200,000 demonstrators gathered in DC for the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Credit: Wally McNamee/Getty.
Memphis sanitation workers on strike in 1968, demanding recognition for their union, better wages, and safer working conditions after two trash handlers were killed by a malfunctioning garbage truck. Credit: Richard Copley/NBC News Photo Blog.
Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to Congress, serving the first of seven terms beginning in 1969. She was also the first woman and first African-American to seek the nomination for president from one of the two major political parties — the Democrats — in 1972. Chisolm fought for racial and gender equality, advocated for the poor, and opposed the Vietnam War. Credit: Pictorial Parade/Getty.
Marsha P. Johnson was an African American transgender women who was an LGBTQ rights activist and an outspoken advocate for trans people of color. Johnson was one of the leaders of the Stonewall uprising in 1969 along with Sylvia Rivera and was committed to helping homeless transgender youth in New York City. Credit: Barbara Alper/Getty.
In 1991, Anita Hill brings the issue of sexual harassment to public attention as she testifies in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee during Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court confirmation hearing. Credit: Paul Hosefros/The New York Times.
In 1987 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
In 1999, Serena Williams wins her first singles Grand Slam at the US Open at age 17. Credit: Getty Images.
Black Lives Matters founders from left to right: Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi. #BlackLivesMatter was created in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman. The Black-centered political will and movement building project is now a member-led global network of more than 40 chapters. Credit: Black Lives Matter.
Black POWER Portland Maine organized more than 2,000 people who marched through the streets of Portland, demonstrating eight hours for the 9.5 minutes a Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyd’s. Credit: Maine Beacon.
A march through downtown Minneapolis calling for justice for George Floyd on April 19, 2021, during jury deliberations in the Derek Chauvin trial. Credit: Tony Webster.
“If unkindness is indeed a serial killer, then my revelation is that I was my own murderer. I had taught myself to bend to my own unkindness first, so that I would be able to withstand the unkindness of others. I will not bend anymore.”
— Tarana Burke, Unbound
Unbound by Tarana Burke
“From the founder and activist behind one of the largest movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the "me too" movement, Tarana Burke debuts a powerful memoir about her own journey to saying those two simple yet infinitely powerful words - me too - and how she brought empathy back to an entire generation in one of the largest cultural events in American history.”
Credit: Tarana Burke
Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford
“Somebody’s Daughter steps into the world of growing up a poor Black girl in Indiana with a family fragmented by incarceration, exploring how isolating and complex such a childhood can be. As Ashley battles her body and her environment, she embarks on a powerful journey to find the threads between who she is and what she was born into, and the complicated familial love that often binds them.”
Credit: Silver in the City
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
“Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning literary author who, to everyone's surprise, shows up in New York. When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their past buried traumas, but the eyebrows of New York's Black literati.”
Credit: Goodreads
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
“A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.”
Credit: Libromaniacs
When Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
“The book centers around a law clerk for an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court. After the Justice becomes gravely ill, the law clerk becomes his legal guardian. The inspiration for the book came from a conversation with her mother, in which her mother noted Article Three of the United States Constitution allows for a lifetime appointment for justices, but "has no failsafe for a person being physically unable to do the job.”
Credit: She’s Full of Lit
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
“At once a powerful evocation of James Baldwin's early life in Harlem and a disturbing examination of the consequences of racial injustice, the book is an intensely personal and provocative document. It consists of two "letters," written on the occasion of the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, that exhort Americans, both black and white, to attack the terrible legacy of racism.”
Credit: Brown Bag Books
Call Me American by Abdi Nor Iftin
“Abdi Nor Iftin tells the true story of immigrating to America via luck and perseverance: as a Somali refugee, he won entrance to the US in an annual lottery, then risked his life to reach his new home. Iftin encourages audiences to consider new perspectives and redefine their notions of what it means to be American.”
Credit: NPR
No Ashes in the Fire by Darnell L. Moore
“In No Ashes in the Fire, Moore shares the journey taken by that scared, bullied teenager who not only survived, but found his calling. Moore's transcendence over the myriad forces of repression that faced him is a testament to the grace and care of the people who loved him, and to his hometown, Camden, NJ, scarred and ignored but brimming with life.”
Credit: Amazon
The Sum of Us by Heather C. McGhee
“The Sum of Us is a brilliant analysis of how we arrived here: divided and self-destructing, materially rich but spiritually starved and vastly unequal. McGhee marshals economic and sociological research to paint an irrefutable story of racism’s costs, but at the heart of the book are the humble stories of people yearning to be part of a better America, including white supremacy’s collateral victims: white people themselves.” Check out the companion podcast & discussion guide.
Credit: Heather C. McGhee
“I came across a record of the demographics of the graphic design industry, and for the life of me I can’t remember how (how I found it or why I went looking for it), but I did. And when I discovered that only 3–3.5% of all practicing designers in America are Black, and ±85% White (depending on the source), a lot of things started making sense. And I understood why everything looked the same.”
— Tré Seals, Founder of Vocal Type
Portland Trading Co
“Portland Trading Co. is simply a general store for modern times. We cover both clothing, accessories, footwear, apothecary, and homegoods. In addition, we cover a well-curated collection of all things vintage: wares, homegoods, books and unique items.”
LOQUAT
“We know that art can save lives. Our materials, motifs, collaborations and contributions are selected to directly benefit and empower marginalized people, causes and aesthetics. Our goal as artists and designers is to honor the individuals, traditions and communities that have made LOQUAT possible.”
Credit: LOQUAT by Jiwana Soleimani
Common Threads of Maine
“At Common Threads of Maine, our mission is to promote fulfilling careers in the Maine textile industry by teaching people to become skilled stitchers, advocating for fair treatment in the workplace, and assisting business development.”
Credit: Common Threads of Maine by Gabe Souza
Vocal Type
“When an industry is dominated by a single race and gender, this not only creates a lack of diversity in peoples and experiences but ideas and creations as well. That’s why Vocal Type is working to diversify design through the root of all (good) works of graphic design—typography.”
Credit: Vocal Type by Jared Soares
Yardie Ting
“If Mainers want to experience the ultimate taste of Jamaica, all they need to do is head to Portland’s Monument Square Public Market House, where they will find themselves pulled to the second floor by the smell of jerk chicken, oxtails, pork, and curry infused dishes, all served up by owner Shanna-Kay Wright at Yardie Ting.”
Credit: Amjambo Africa by Steven Bridges
Knitting Nook
“Knitting Nook is a yarn shop and cafe located in Ferry Village South Portland and serving the greater Portland area. Born from a life altering experience, Knitting Nook’s foundation is built on the simple concept of a comfortable space for fiber artists of all skill levels and interests to find top quality supplies, camaraderie, and a great drink or bite to eat supported by unparalleled customer service.”
Credit: Portland Press Herald
Rwanda Bean
“Rwanda Bean was created in 2013 with the mission to support the community of coffee farmers who are growing a stronger Rwanda by sharing their harvests and stories with the wider world. It started with just a couple of pounds of raw beans shipped from Rwanda for a taste-test, and it’s growing to become an amazing community of caring people who believe in giving back.”
Credit: Rwanda Bean Company
Additional Resources
If you’re looking for additional local or national organizations to support year round, here is a list to get you started. Consider a personal donation, going in on a gift with friends, purchasing something from their shop, or sharing to your social networks.
By consciously and collectively celebrating (ongoing) Black history, we honor the U.S.'s diverse narratives and shine a light on the many achievements that Black people have accomplished in this country, despite this nation’s legacy of white supremacy and oppression. We’re calling everyone in to support and amplify the work of Black writers, artists, creators, entrepreneurs, and history-makers year round.
Learn more about the origins of Black History Month.