By Chrissy M. Thornton There is a quiet calculus many Black people perform before we even walk into a store. We soften our tone. We monitor our posture. We keep receipts visible. We are mindful of where our hands are, how long we linger, whether we look “confused” or “confrontational.” This constant awareness is exhausting. […]
Tag: Black History Month
Posted inArts & Culture
A new way forward
Black History Month is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made, and to take responsibility for the future by choosing courage, service, and action over comfort, self-interest, and applause.
Posted inWord In Black
Education is repair: Black history and America at 250
By Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter This summer, the United States will celebrate 250 years of independence. However, this is not the only anniversary to commemorate. February marks the 50th anniversary of Black History Month as it exists now, and 100 years of this recognition in some form. As we reflect on these milestones, the struggle […]
Posted inOPINION
Black History Month 2026: We proclaim it!
By Dr. Kaye Whitehead In 1926, during the nadir of Black history, Dr. Carter G. Woodson—the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the son of formerly enslaved parents, a former sharecropper and miner, and the second Black person to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University—launched the first […]
Posted inLiving
How ancient African proverbs can empower Black lives today
By Aswad WalkerAssociate editor, Houston Defender With each passing day the assault on all things Black increases. The Department of Defense removed the Tuskegee Airmen and Jackie Robinson from the DoD’s official webpage. The DoD no longer acknowledges Black History Month. The U.S. Army erased Civil Rights Movement hero and U.S. military veteran Medgar Evers’ […]
Posted inWord In Black
The alternate reality of the 47th president’s Black History Month Celebration
Donald Trump hosted a Black History Month celebration at the White House, but the mostly Black audience in the East Room of the White House failed to question his racist policies and past actions, such as canceling Black History Month events at the Pentagon and revoking a 1965 executive order that banned racial discrimination in government employment and government contractors.
Posted inNational News
A time to reflect: Why Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a national holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in Confederate states, acknowledges the pain of slavery and the joy of freedom, and enriches the cultural fabric of the nation.
Sponsored
Building a more inclusive economy: Q&A with JPMorgan Chase’s Thelma Ferguson
Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co. All communities should have the resources they need to strengthen their economic futures. This Black History Month, JPMorgan Chase is affirming their commitment to breaking down barriers — including the racial wealth gap — and promoting opportunity for all. In recognition of Black History Month, we connected with Thelma […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, National News, News, NEWS
Despite efforts to remove them, Confederates and segregationists live on in Capitol statues
By Brennan Stewart, Capital News Service February was Black History Month, an observance meant to honor and celebrate the achievements made by African Americans throughout the history of the United States. But reminders of the oppression that African Americans suffered are still on display in the United States Capitol, taking the form of 12 statues […]
Posted inHBCU
National Battle of the Bands honors HBCU heritage with “The Legacy of HBCU Marching Bands”
Special Release The Pepsi National Battle of the Bands (NBOTB) is proud to announce the February airing of “The Legacy of HBCU Marching Bands,” a film that pays tribute to the rich heritage and ongoing legacy of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching bands. This vibrant showcase will feature the performances of eight premier […]
Posted inCommentary
Setting the record straight on an important piece of Black history
By Ben Jealous With the start of Black History Month, I brace myself for the mis-telling of Black History yet again. In schoolhouses and everywhere the stories are told, a persistent myth shows its ugly head: the ridiculous notion that great Black leaders are not just exceptional but exceptions. It is an idea rooted in […]
Posted inBlack History
Cardin celebrates ‘Legacy of Progress,’ highlights Black Marylanders’ untold stories during Black History Month
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Special Representative on Antisemitism, Racism and Intolerance for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, submitted remarks into the official Congressional Record honoring Black Americans who have influenced Maryland and U.S foreign policy and highlighting […]