Black History: Beyond February
In my youth, I was certain that Social Studies was the worst subject to have to sit through. Distinguishing one page of war photos from the next was an impossible task. I was required to regurgitate a timeline of battles on hills and white men conquering communities of barbaric brown people. I’d ask myself why any of us would need to learn about things that happened hundreds of years ago. I couldn’t connect to these stories and it required years of unlearning to understand why.
There has been a deep investment in our country in making sure children are fed a history that supports the narrative of White-male dominance. A history that hides the immense power, resilience and beauty of Black people like me. Although we celebrate our history 365 days of the year, February is the permission that we are given to do that in white spaces.
At REACH, the staff and board are beginning to unpack this fed history and challenge dominant culture. REACH is committed to listening and learning from all marginalized communities in ways that drive inclusive solutions. We do not have all the answers, yet offer these actions that we can all do to celebrate Black History Month year-round:
- Buy, Hire, & Learn Black as a Form of Justice, Not Pity
- Discuss Black History with Non-Black People
- Stand up to Microaggressions Every Day, Even If It’s Uncomfortable
- Find Viable Ways to Use Your White Privilege to Advance BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color)
- Say Black when you mean Black (Not POC)
“Black history is American history.” Morgan Freeman
