As we enter February and celebrate Black History Month, it’s vital to remember that Black history is not just a thing of the past—it’s a living, evolving story. This month isn’t just about reflection; it’s about celebration, learning, and taking action to support the Black community. Let’s discuss why Black History Month in 2025 feels especially important, what we can do to honor it, and how we must keep pushing forward as a country.
The Weight of the Past
This is a country where people were stripped of their right to their bodies, languages, homes, and cultures—just to name a few. A country where enslaved people were legally emancipated, but some weren’t notified until years later (Juneteenth). A country where slavery supposedly “ended,” but people were still enslaved as late as the 1960s (Mae Louise Miller escaped slavery in Mississippi in 1963).
When chattel slavery was abolished, someone thought, “Let’s find a workaround—how about we just beef up the prison system?” (Involuntary Servitude: How Prison Labor is Modern Day Slavery).
This is the same country that told Black people to “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” while generational wealth was being stacked on one side and generational trauma was racking up on the other (Effects of Multi-Generational Stress Exposure and Offspring Environment).
And let’s not forget– Black babies were used as alligator bait, an unspeakable atrocity that reminds us how dehumanized Black lives have been throughout history.
Alligator Bait– more on this topic
Thriving Despite Sabotage
Even when Black communities thrived, their success was met with violence and destruction. Case in point: Black communities like Tulsa’s Black Wall Street, were bombed to the ground. Similar fates met other successful Black towns (Rosewood and Wilmington massacres).
Segregation was declared a thing of the past and “ended” but someone else thought, “I got a workaround—let’s call it redlining.” Redlining became a modern tool of racial segregation and economic disparity —a discriminatory practice denying Black families access to certain neighborhoods (definition of redlining and it’s effects).
Chicago is a prime example of this. It remains one of the most segregated cities in the nation. The design of the city keeps certain groups cut off from resources, contributing to issues we see today, Chicago is often used as a talking point for people who choose to ignore history and the intentional flaws in this country’s design.
*Actual footage of people who use the talking point, “wEll LoOk aT cHicagO”*
I’ll even play therapist today and say that it’s in our nature to want to be around what’s familiar to us, be it people of similar interests and race, or religion, but the issues come in when there’s a system in place that’s doing harm and prevent people from experiencing equity especially in a country that was built on an unjust foundation.
More Sabotage
The attempts to control and diminish Black identity didn’t stop there. This stuff is deep. Black women in the Louisiana were forced to cover their hair under tignon laws, to prevent them from ‘tempting’ white men. Fast forward to today, and while there’s progress we’re still battling for Black hair expression to be considered “professional”
A Story of Resilience
Despite every obstacle, Black people in America have shown unmatched resilience, creativity, and beauty. Stripped of their names, traditions, languages, and connections to their origins, they still built communities, fostered cultures, and created art that shaped and continues to shape the world.
Consider the contributions of African American artists, musicians, and inventors:
- Maya Angelou: Poet, author, and activist.
- Nina Simone: Musician, activist, and voice of a generation.
- Langston Hughes: A poetic voice of the Harlem Renaissance, expressing the Black experience.
- “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.” – Langston Hughes, Let America Be America Again
Countless Black inventors whose creations we use daily
- Garrett Morgan: Inventor of the traffic signal and gas mask.
- Granville T. Woods: Developed significant advances in railway technology.
Why Black History Month Still Matters
We’re in a time where people are either ignoring or remain unaware of how the past continues to affect us as a nation today. With Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) being dismantled left and right it’s important to talk about American history, Black History. Black History Month helps to amplify diverse voices and through knowing these stories of our past we can use them moving forward to create a more inclusive and equitable country.
We’re in the Year of the Snake—a time of shedding old skins, uncovering truths, and bringing things to light. Yet as a country, we’ve dodged the bigger conversations for too long.
To truly move forward, we need to stop with the symbolic gestures and address the root issues. This country was built on injustice, and what’s built on a shaky foundation has to be rebuilt—this time in a way that’s just for everyone.
Black History Month isn’t just for Black people; it’s American History. It’s a time to educate people and come to figure out how we can structure things differently to allow everyone to thrive in this country and help right the wrongs of the past. It’s a time to showcase and celebrate the contributions that have been ignored. isn’t just about remembering the struggles—it’s about celebrating the achievements and resilience of a people who have thrived despite all odds. Representation is vital, and being “colorblind” does nothing to solve our issues as a country. And this country has never been colorblind to begin with.
article- Why Are States Banning Critical Race Theory?
How to Participate Meaningfully
- Support Black-Owned Businesses: Whether on a grand scale or through your everyday purchases, supporting Black entrepreneurs is a direct way to give back.
- Learn and Share the History: Many people still don’t know the full history of Black America—the brutal truths or the joyful contributions. Share knowledge with others.
- Advocate for Change: Push for systemic changes that address the root causes of inequality rather than just surface-level solutions.
Moving Forward
America has long avoided the larger conversation: the foundation of this country was built unjustly, and the systems created continue to perpetuate inequality. Healing can’t come without acknowledgment, and acknowledgment requires action.
Black history is not just history—it’s the history of America. It’s the story of resilience and beauty, even in the face of unimaginable odds. This February, let’s do more than celebrate. Let’s educate, foster community, share ideas and commit to the work of rebuilding America – a country everyone can thrive.