LOS ANGELES (KABC) — When Angel City FC’s Madison Hammond steps onto the field, she’s a professional soccer player, a friend, a daughter and a leader.
The last of which she realized as a rookie, playing in Seattle in the summer of 2020. Through riots and reckoning, her team at the time went on a privilege walk, lined up as if to race, but first listening to 10 statements, taking a step forward for each that applies to them.
“One of the statements was, take a step forward if you were raised in a two-parent household. Take a step forward if you could’ve afforded to go to college without a scholarship,” said Hammond.
Madison, who has always felt supported, comfortable, even privileged, took three steps. Among the fewest on her team.
“You realize, I had to do so much work to get to the exact same training session, to the exact same moment of playing professional soccer,” said Hammond.
It was a career-defining moment that had both nothing and everything to do with the game itself.
The now 26-year-old defender is the first Native American player in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Her mother raised her in New Mexico’s San Felipe Pueblo, immersed in indigenous culture.
She’s also Black, a part of her identity she’s more deliberately grown into.
“That identity has been something I’ve reclaimed as I’ve continued growing and continued entering new spaces with a lot of impressive Black woman as well,” said Hammond.
At Angel City, Madison finds examples on every level.
“As a player she has evolved in the short period of time we’ve been Angel City and as a person she’s evolved,” said Angela Hucles Mangano, the club’s general manager.
Much of Angel City’s incentive is built around community. For example, to commemorate Black History Month, the team hired SoCal native and illustrator Tyler Misha Barnett to design a limited collection, with 10% of proceeds going to a local nonprofit.
On the field, Black History Month is a collection of personal stories, of players like Madison leading the way for the future.
“I know what it’s like to have that power to have a voice, so if I can give younger players or even older players feel like they have a space where they have a voice and also still play the sport that we all love and we’re all here for, then I’ve done at least a little bit of my job,” said Hammond.
LARGO, FLA — Marcus Paschal finished his 10th season as Largo High School’s head football coach this school year.
He was recently recognized as the city of Largo’s Black History Month honoree during a commission meeting.
What You Need To Know
Marcus Paschal is this week’s A+ Teacher
Paschal is the head football coach at Largo High School
He went to school there, played on the football team and went on to play in the NFL
Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher
“I’m truly grateful to be honored with such an amazing award with so much meaning behind it,” said Paschal.
Paschal graduated from Largo High School and played football there. He went on to play in the NFL. Paschal uses what he’s learned in his professional football career to guide his current players.
“This is something that you could put in a storybook, you know, because I’ve been and played at the highest level and chose to come back home to try to give these guys and these girls some inspiration,” said Paschal.
In addition to coaching, Paschal teaches weightlifting classes at Largo High. He’s teaching his students proper form and nutrition.
“This is something that I always wanted to do, so this isn’t a job for me. This is something that was put on my heart at a young age and I just enjoy coming here every day to try to mentor the next generation of Largo Packers,” said Paschal.
Among his students are family members. His daughter, younger brother and niece are juniors. His brother is on the football team.
“It’s just definitely a blessing to be able to be hands on with them. I’m always hands on with everybody else’s kids but having that opportunity to be hands on with mine is definitely a great feeling,” said Paschal.
Paschal will tell you every student is family. Largo High and this community are part of who he is and he says he feels honored to live, coach and teach here.
“The field is an extension of the classroom and your best coaches are amazing teachers and that’s what I pride myself on,” said Paschal.
Black Heritage Festival is a family-friendly event held at Florin Square Plaza
Updated: 8:05 AM PST Feb 11, 2024
WITH GOOD FOOD, MUSIC AND ART. PEOPLE GATHERED IN SOUTH SACRAMENTO TODAY FOR THE BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL. THE FREE EVENT WAS AT THE FLORENCE SQUARE PLAZA, WHERE DOZENS OF FAMILIES ENJOYED LOCAL BANDS, EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS. THE FESTIVAL IS HOSTED BY THE SOJOURNER TRUTH AFRICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO. IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, IT HELPS PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER JUST THE DIVERSITY AND JUST LEARNING AND, YOU KNOW, NETWORKING WITH ONE ANOTHER. UM, BUILDING UP THE ECONOMIC OF THE AREA AS PART OF THIS EVENT TOMORROW, THERE WILL ALSO BE A5K RUN AND WALK RAC
Black Heritage Festival is a family-friendly event held at Florin Square Plaza
Updated: 8:05 AM PST Feb 11, 2024
The Sacramento community celebrated Black History Month with a Black Heritage Festival at Florin Square Plaza. The family-friendly event featured music from local bands, art exhibits, vendor and resource booths, film screenings, and educational workshops. Art activities were available for youth and adults including mural painting and printing of branded t-shirts.For more, check out the video player above.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The Sacramento community celebrated Black History Month with a Black Heritage Festival at Florin Square Plaza. The family-friendly event featured music from local bands, art exhibits, vendor and resource booths, film screenings, and educational workshops. Art activities were available for youth and adults including mural painting and printing of branded t-shirts.
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – Many Louisiana state leaders and historians have spent the last 20 years gathering information that would become a museum dedicated to a revolutionary moment in American History.
Located inside the Convention Center in New Orleans, natives and tourists will find pieces of Louisiana’s history for people to discover.
“To be able to capture those stories, while many of those people are still alive, to tell the story in their words, is pretty incredible,” said Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser.
It took one vision and a team of people to create an experience that teaches and honors the state’s role in the Civil Rights Movement.
“We got a lot of great things in Louisiana but I don’t think we have a Civil Rights Trail,” said Nungesser.
Millions of dollars were invested in this project. Highlighting marches, boycotts and other movements that Nungesser said Alabama and Mississippi took credit for.
“We wanted to make sure that we used all the money to make it a wow factor. So partnered with the convention center where we didn’t have to build a building and maintain it was a natural fit,” said Nungesser.
Part of that “wow factor” includes historical figures coming to life.
One of the main attractions that you’ll find inside the museum is the “Dream Cube”. It’s created using A.I. technology to give each visitor an immersive and unique experience putting them right in the middle of history.
“You walk in that cube and you can talk to those little girls, all that in the school, or you can look to the left and be in the march from Bogalusa to Baton Rouge as a young talking about that hot day, marching over 100 miles to Baton Rouge,” said Nungesser.
“If that doesn’t give you goosebumps and put a chill in your spine, nothing will,” said Nungesser.
As tourists move through the museum, they’ll notice it’s broken into three sections to magnify major components of the Civil Rights Movement: the right to vote, the right to education and the right to assemble.
“It’s something first off, we didn’t learn in school. It’s recognizing some heroes, some brave men and women who stood up in that time. It tells a story,” said Nungesser.
Other civil rights advocates also want to encourage both Louisianans and tourists to learn about the history, challenges and growth in the Pelican state.
“People know New Orleans. People know Louisiana. We should not have to go to museums in other states to learn about our heritage,” said Brenda Brent Williams, the Civil Rights Museum Advisory Board President.
Nungesser said this is the inaugural experience. They hope to expand soon and make this even bigger and better.
“People need to get out and see it for themselves. It’s something that a story that should have been told a long time ago,” said Nungesser.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets are $7 for adults and $6 for kids. School groups are free and military discounts are offered.
For tickets or more information, visit the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum website.
Everyone has their go-to procrastination tactic. Maybe you find yourself refreshing your Instagram feed, whipping up an elaborate meal, or going for a leisurely walk when you’re putting off a task. My personal coping mechanism? Making shopping lists. No matter what mood I’m in or why exactly I’m looking to kill time, my first instinct is to draw up a list of things I need (well, more often than not, things I want but don’t actually need). Grocery lists, arbitrary to-do lists, and, yes, shopping lists.
Being a fashion editor, I keep a running tab of my favorite brands and boutiques that are owned or designed by Black talent. These names are top of mind throughout the year, but given that February is Black History Month, it’s the perfect time to highlight all the stunning Black-owned fashion items that are occupying my cart (and my headspace) right now. In the below edit, you’ll find a range of items from pretty pearl earrings to trendy sneakers and brands from smaller indie labels like K.ngsley and Sammy B to industry heavyweights such as Telfar and Christopher John Rogers. This one goes out to you, Who What Wear readers, because there’s no one who loves a good shopping list more than you do (except for yours truly).
In 2020, pretty much every industry went through a crisis. Yes, partly because of the pandemic. But, after the murder of George Floyd and the international Black Lives Matter playlists, everyone looked around and realized: their Black representation was abysmal.
From corporate offices to movies, people were forced to reckon with the institutionalized racism at the core of their industries. Promises were made. Copies bell hooks’s All About Love were sold out. DEI executives were added to C Suites. And everyone swore to look inward and make changes outward. But now, all those promises have been forgotten.
DEI leaders are being fired across the board in record numbers, and companies are proving that all their talk in 2020 was just that — talk. According to a report by Revelio Labs, a data analytics company analyzing workforce trends, DE&I roles have been diminishing faster than non-DE&I positions since 2021.
The entertainment industry is also reneging on its promises. Despite having loyal audiences and critical acclaim, Black titles that were greenlit during the BLM fervor have now been cast aside by executives. In 2023, a record number of Black-led titles were canceled. Some of the axed titles include: HBO MAX’s Love Life starring Jessica Willims; Grown-ish, the Hulu spinoff of Black-ish starring Yara Shahidi, Trevor Jackson, Luka Sabbat, and Marcus Scribner; the beloved political comedy series Ziwe starring Ziwe; AMC’s Damascus; FX’s Kindred; and the reality show Sweet Life: Los Angeles.
Even powerhouses in the industry are worried by this trend. Issa Rae, showrunner of Insecure and our President in Barbie spoke Net-A-Porter about this trend. “You’re seeing so many Black shows get canceled; you’re seeing so many executives – especially on the DEI side – get canned. You’re seeing very clearly now that our stories are less of a priority.”
If even Issa Rae worries about the state of entertainment, it must be dire.
So this Black History Month, support Black titles — before they get axed. Maybe by showing our support to Black stories, we can get more of them made. Here’s to wishful thinking.
Rye Lane
Forget Anyone But You, Rye Lane is bringing back the rom-com. Starring David Jonsson andVivian Oparah, this lighthearted romantic comedy follows two heartbroken singles who spend a day together in South London.
They Cloned Tyrone
Starring John Boyega, Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx, this science fiction comedy and mystery follows an unlikely trio as they delve into the heart of a neighborhood conspiracy.
The Kitchen
Directed by Daniel Kaluuya (of Nope and Judas & the Black Messiah), The Kitchen is a dystopian commentary on class in London. Set in a future without socialized housing, The Kitchen follows a community determined not to leave their home.
American Fiction
Head to the theaters for this one — it’s one of Jeffery Wright’s best performances. It follows an author who parodies the mainstream expectations of Black writers and is caught in a trap when his parody book skyrockets in popularity. A commentary on American culture and the publishing industry, follow this outrageous tale — which also features Issa Rae.
Chevalier
Kelvin Harrison Jr. stuns in this biographical portrayal of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges — who was the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation. It tells the insane but true story of his rise into the upper echelons of French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer, including his love affair and falling out with Marie Antoinette.
Abbott Elementary is back for Season 3 this month. Celebrate the Emmy award-winning sitcom by binging the first two seasons in preparation for its great return. Fingers crossed it never gets canceled.
Queen Charlotte
From the Bridgerton family comes Queen Charlotte, which emerged from the fun and fanciful world of Bridgerton as a force of nature. Dramatizing the real-life story of Queen Charlotte and George III, this surprisingly sharp and smart drama explores themes of race and mental health while retaining Shonda Rhimes’s addictive approach to romance.
Top Boy
Speaking of British dramas, Top Boy is London’s answer to The Wire. Every few years it goes viral when it comes back on Netflix. Catch up now and don’t be surprised if you find yourself incorporating London slang into your day.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The Spider-Verse animated Spider-Man movies follow Miles Morales, the Black, Brooklyn spiderman, as he travels across multiple dimensions. The most recent 2023 installment is a heart-wrenching journey that will thrill and surprise you, then leave you begging for part three.
Swarm
Donald Glover’s partnership with Amazon Studios is bringing us a TV remake of Mr & Mrs Smith this year. Until then, enjoy Swarm, starring Dominique Fishback. Fictionalizing the fervor of Beyonce’s Beyhive, it’s a satirical thriller about fandom.
Black Cake
Based on The New York Times-bestselling book by Charmaine Wilkerson, Black Cake is a generational-spanning family drama wrapped in a murder mystery about a woman whose children unravel the mystery of her life from the Caribbean to America.
High Fidelity
Zoe Kravitz, the ultimate cool girl, stars in one of my favorite shows ever — another Black-led show that was canceled after one season. A rework of the novel by Nick Hornby and the 2000 movie starring John Cusack, High Fidelity is a tumultuous story about one girl, the music she likes, and all her exes. It also stars Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who is currently nominated across the awards circuit for her recent role in The Holdovers.
Genius: MLK/X
After the hit that was Hulu’s Genuis: Aretha, the series is back with a story about Martin Luther King and Malcom X. This docu-series explores the work and personal lives of these two civil right figures without shying away from their personal figures and spotlighting the contributions of the women in their lives and in the movement.
The Color Purple
A cinematic feat, this 2023 musical adaptation features a powerhouse cast of: Halle Bailey, Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, and more. You’re going to want to see this in theaters.
The Little Mermaid
Halle Bailey brought new life to this fairy tale and its soundtrack. Balance the heavier content you consume this month with this tale (no pun intended) of hope and love.
There are so many aspects of health that disproportionately affect the Black community, and yet less than six percent of US doctors are Black – a deficit that only further harms public health. Many of the Black folks who work in healthcare have dedicated their careers to combatting inequities. That’s why, this Black History Month, PS is crowning our Black Health Heroes: physicians, sexologists, doulas, and more who are advocating for the Black community in their respective fields. Meet them all here.
It’s not uncommon for doctors to know from a very young age that they’re destined for medicine. That was certainly the case of Nneamaka Nwubah, MD, better known as Dr. Amaka. After experiencing hospitals and loss at a young age, the board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon knew she wanted to help people. She just didn’t know how, exactly, until her third year of medical school. The moment of clarity came after observing a mastectomy for breast cancer, followed by two plastic surgeons completing reconstructive surgery.
“I was like, ‘How is this even possible?’” Dr. Amaka tells POPSUGAR. “At that moment, I was like, this is what I’m doing. It was that crystal clear.”
At first, she was told it would be too hard and too competitive, and that it would be impossible to ever have a family while working in the field, but thankfully, she stayed the course. “I had to just silence all that noise and focus on the vision in my heart for it,” she says. She ended up matching in plastic surgery, just as she had dreamed, and the rest fell into place. Now she owns a private practice in Nashville and has become known as the person to go to for “mommy restoration,” which is her preferred name for “mommy makeovers,” or customizable procedures that address physical changes that can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Not to mention, she has more than 231,000 followers on TikTok, where she regularly shares informative videos demystifying the world of aesthetics.
We spoke to Dr. Amaka about her career evolution, how “mommy restoration” surgeries accidentally became her signature, and the importance of representation in the industry – not just on the professional side, but on the patient side as well.
POPSUGAR: Tell us how you started in the plastic surgery and aesthetics field.
Dr. Amaka: After residency, I realized I liked aesthetics and cosmetics. So I did a one-year fellowship focusing on the aesthetic aspect of plastic surgery, the refinement; all of the cosmetic aspects of it. We get a ton of reconstructive stuff in residency, but we don’t get a ton of aesthetics, and I just knew I wanted to start out at the top of my game. I didn’t want to learn on the go – I wanted to start off with excellence.
PS: What made you want to start your own practice?
Dr. Amaka: After my fellowship, I joined a practice and enjoyed it. But then the goosebumps came again, and it was like, “You’ve got to start your own practice.” I never thought I wanted to do this – I was OK being an employee, clocking in and clocking out. But my heart was set on it, and I couldn’t shake it. So I went ahead and did that in March of 2023. We opened up the practice, and that’s where I am now.
PS: How did mommy restoration surgeries become your signature?
Dr. Amaka: It just came naturally. That is the population I relate heavily to. When you walk into a room and it’s another mother, you automatically have a bond. And I felt like I was really good at it. Along the way, I was meeting and talking with moms, and I was like, “This makeover stuff we’re talking about just makes people nervous and makes it sound vain.” So then I just thought, “Why don’t we call it restoration?” So that’s how that whole thing came about. Mothers go through a lot . . . it’s this mindset that I’m supposed to always take care of people; I shouldn’t be doing this for me; this is selfish.
PS: What does mommy restoration surgery entail?
Dr. Amaka: Seeing the transformation with everything we do is powerful, but mommy restoration surgery is the most powerful because it’s very functional. You’re walking around and you still look pregnant even though your youngest child is 10, and it impacts you every day. And it’s not just the physical, but everything does look great. The breasts are lifted; the tummy’s nice; they have nice waistlines; but it’s an internal change that you see as well.
PS: In the plastic surgery field, Black people are underrepresented on both the patient and the surgeon side. How does that impact and influence your mission?
“A lot of people seek me out from all over the country because of the fact that I am a Black woman and my work is good. They feel like they can trust that I’m going to give them results that they desire.”
Dr. Amaka: It’s even fewer females, too. I think the surgery fields, in general, tend to dissuade females. When I was trying to come into the field, a lot of people told me, “You really shouldn’t do it. You’re just going to be the only one.” So it was really important to have a presence that people could see. I just always say: “I’m a Black woman with an Afro. There’s no question of what I am, and I’m doing this, and that means you can do it, too. And not only can you do it as a surgeon and be very successful, but also as a patient.”
It helps justify the patient aspect of it. A stigma, in general, in the Black community is, “Oh, plastic surgery is not for us.” But a lot of times, just being there, being present, makes people feel heard. A lot of people seek me out from all over the country because of the fact that I am a Black woman and my work is good. They feel like they can trust that I’m going to give them results that they desire, but also that I’m going to keep them safe just from that common shared experience.
PS: In what ways do you think the industry needs to catch up to encourage more Black women to seek out plastic surgery and surgery?
Dr. Amaka: A way to start is just showing more women of color having surgery. Some surgeons will show a good range, but some of them are just one race. If you don’t see yourself in the before-and-afters, then you think this is just not for me. There are some myths out there. I’ll see women who were told that they’re just going to scar badly because they’re Black, and that’s just not true. So I think another part of it is just demystifying all these myths around women of color and plastic surgery. Even when it comes down to nonsurgical procedures and injectables – showing more women of color getting these treatments or talking about it demystifies it. It makes it seem like it’s for everyone because it is. When plastic surgery first came out, it was very much this elitist thing, but I think people are seeing that it’s doable for everybody and that no one needs to be excluded.
PS: What inspired you to start creating content on TikTok?
Dr. Amaka: I actually started doing it as education. Getting new patients wasn’t my initial goal, although it happened naturally. During my first year in practice, I saw a lady in the emergency room who went out of state for plastic surgery, had a really bad outcome, and couldn’t get in touch with anybody. I was like, “What happened?” and she was like, “I just didn’t know.” I felt like she was taken advantage of because of her lack of knowledge, which happens, and that was the pendulum shift where I started talking more and educating. That’s how the platform grew, and then it just kind of evolved into what it is now.
PS: What’s one specific memory in your job that has really stuck with you?
Dr. Amaka: That’s tough when there’ve been so many. I’ll say, there was a breast reconstruction situation where it was a patient who had been to multiple different places and just kept having problems and complications. The interesting thing was she had been with some very experienced surgeons. I was new – this was my first year of practice. And you have this thing to overcome whenever you start anything – and even if you’re established in something, too – where you question, am I good enough? Do I belong here? I think a lot of people go through that, and I think people of color probably go through that a little bit more. It’s just reality. So I was like: “Gosh, why me? How am I going to help this lady? She’s already had so many experienced hands on her.”
So I remember that it was a big surgery, like 10 to 12 hours, and it required a lot of technical expertise, and it was very nerve-racking. But going through that process, getting her healed and to a point where she was doing really well and happy was a big milestone. I still see her yearly just because she feels like she needs to see someone in medicine that she can trust.
That one stuck out as a moment where you realize it’s not about your experience with this or that; it’s just about your willingness to see a problem and try to fix it and not take no for an answer.
The movies in the collection include If Beale Street Could Talk, The Five Heartbeats, Dreamgirls, Shaft, The Best Man, School Daze, Friday, Dear White People, Crooklyn, The Wood, Sarafina! and more. The films will be available in-flight for Delta customers.
“In-flight movies offer a great way to discover titles that were previously unknown to me,” says AAFCA president Gil Robertson. “Over the years, I have been introduced to phenomenal stories that broadened my point of view about different people and cultures from around the world. It is my hope that Delta passengers will enjoy a similar experience from our collection, which provides a showcase for the richness of Black-themed stories.”
The AAFCA, the largest group of Black film critics globally, said it worked with Delta’s in-flight entertainment team and BOLD, Delta’s Black Community Business Resource Group, to select films that encompass a wide range of genres and narratives.
“Delta seeks to be a champion of diversity through meaningful in-flight entertainment content and elevate the onboard offering with thoughtful, value-driven curation,” says Catherine McDaniel, lead content curator of movies for Delta Studio. “Delta is thrilled to partner with AAFCA for this special collection to help us highlight underrepresented voices during Black History Month, and all year round.”
The collection is set to debut in early February and will be available on Delta flights throughout the month.
Celebrate black history through music, art, culture, and more throughout St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches
SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla., February 1, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– Florida’s Historic Coast is well-known for its rich Spanish and British history, but it’s becoming even more recognized for its significant place in African American history. It spans centuries, from the arrival of black Spanish soldiers in the 16th century and the country’s original Underground Railroad in the 1700s to the historic protests and sit-ins by Black activists, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s, paving the way for the Civil Rights Act.
Florida’s Historic Coast recognizes Black History Month with a host of events, programs and historic spaces.
Celebrate Black art at various galleries in St. Augustine. The Ovico Gallery is showcasing contemporary African Art, and photographer Lenny Foster tells the story of historical black figures at his One Forty Four Gallery.
The Lincolnville neighborhood is the epicenter of Black history in St. Augustine. Visitors can visit the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center or walk the ACCORD Freedom Trail Project, featuring 31 historic sites from the St. Augustine Civil Rights Movement.
Black musicians are taking center stage in the month of February. Café Eleven welcomes blues guitarist and songwriter Selwyn Birchwood on Feb. 2 and John Primer, former lead guitarist for Muddy Waters, on Feb. 25. And The Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series returns February 8-17, with featured performers Common, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Keb’ Mo’ and more.
The extensive culinary landscape of Florida’s Historic Coast includes several Black chefs making their mark on the food scene. Executive Chef Denzel Aponte at The Reef Restaurant; Executive Chef Lashunta Harris at Prohibition Kitchen, and Chef Tyrone Bennett, known for his philanthropy with his food truck, Heart and Soul Food Eatery, are some of the area’s most respected culinarians.
Florida’s Historic Coast recognizes and celebrates our black heritage. Narrated tours, museums, historic sites, and more provide opportunities to immerse in the black experience in the Oldest City throughout the year. Watch for the launch of the new Black History Tour App coming soon.
Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. @FloridasHistoricCoast
Source: St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau
This year for Black History Month, we’re celebrating “African Americans & The Arts” with a lineup of specialty programming spotlighting the transformative music and artists in Black culture.
While SiriusXM amplifies Black music legends and rising stars of the genre year-round, we’re honoring Black History Month with newly curated pop-up channels including Teddy Riley’s New Jack Swing Radio and The Apollo Theater Channel, along with exclusive content that showcases Black artists, comedians, and athletes.
On the SiriusXM app, explore everything from the pioneering sounds of jazz legends to the revolutionary bars and beats of hip-hop trailblazers, as well as the most powerful voices in politics, history, and religion to game-changers in comedy, sports, and beyond. Explore Guest DJ sessions from A-list artists, discover sounds from throughout the diaspora, and dive into insightful interviews led by Kevin Hart, Sway Calloway, Gayle King, and other essential hosts. Plus, immerse yourself in podcasts and shows highlighting the history of Harlem, gospel heritage, civil rights champions, and much more.
Black History Month Channels
Teddy Riley’s New Jack Swing Radio
Available February 20–26 on channel 107 and February 2–29 on the SiriusXM app
In the late ’80s, a new hip-hop/R&B hybrid sound emerged, created and perfected by producer Teddy Riley. Today, we’re celebrating the sound of New Jack Swing and its innovative creator, Teddy Riley, as he adds his unique commentary and stories, exclusively on this SiriusXM channel. You’ll hear throwbacks from Bobby Brown, Michael Jackson, SWV, Blackstreet, and more from this classic era of music.
Available February 13–19 on channel 107 and February 2–29 on the SiriusXM app
From the early days of jazz through decades of R&B and hip-hop, The Apollo Theater has been — and continues to be — a focal point of Black culture. Now, we’re spotlighting the music and artists that have influenced the iconic venue. The Apollo Theater Channel features artists who’ve performed at the Apollo and those who’ve been inspired by the Apollo. You’ll also hear classic performances from artists who’ve graced the incredible Apollo stage over the years.
Revival! The Heritage of Black Gospel | Kirk Franklin’s Praise
Journey through time for Black History Month with stories about the gospel songs that have become standards in churches throughout the world, as told by the legendary artists who first created them to the artists who carry the torches today. Celebrate gospel through the eyes of those who have made music to inspire worshippers throughout the decades. It’s our stories from the pews to the stages. A new episode premieres each Thursday in February at 3pm ET.
En Vogue & TLC on The Jody Watley Show | The Groove
The Jody Watley Show celebrates Black History Month with exclusive interviews from ’90s R&B history makers, En Vogue and TLC, premiering on The Groove (Ch. 51) on February 11 at 6pm ET.
Best in Comedy | Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Radio
Hear some of the best Black comedians every weekend throughout the month of February, including the premiere of Hart of the City, featuring comedians hand-selected by Kevin Hart (weekend of February 2); the premiere of the Laugh Tonight catalog with Damon Williams (weekend of February 9); and a rebroadcast of Bernie Mac’s Tapes from a King (weekend of February 16). Plus, enjoy marathon blocks of Kevin Hart’s Gold Minds with some of his biggest guests and brand new full album plays from comedians Kevin wants listeners to hear (weekend of February 23).
SiriusXM and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum present the exclusive podcast series, Black Diamonds, hosted by museum president and historian Bob Kendrick. The podcast showcases the history of the Negro Leagues, highlighting the players, people, and events that shaped them, as well as spotlighting the leagues’ achievements and innovations during a time of segregation and inequality. Hear the stories of baseball legends like Jackie Robinson, Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige, and important figures like Rube Foster, Effa Manley, Buck O’Neil, and many more.
The extraordinary stories of iconic Black Astronauts take flight in monumental Documentary The Space Race that’s already buzzing ahead of its release on The National Geographic Channel and Disney+ Feb. 12.
Check out the trailer below:
In The Space Race, directors Lisa Cortés and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza “profile pioneering Black pilots, scientists, and engineers including Guion Bluford, Leland Melvin, Charles Bolden, and many more who joined NASA to serve their country in space, even as their country failed to achieve equality for them back on Earth,” per the official synopsis.
“It’s these stories that are missing,” said Mendoza in an interview with Deadline. “They are cancellations of moments in history. These stories are sometimes canceled because the people writing them didn’t see the value in keeping them.
We’re in a moment right now, as you can see with this documentary, where the most beautiful thing we can do is rediscover these missing pieces and complete the story. I think it helps enrich everyone’s lives to realize that our world has more information than we’ve grown to appreciate.
With every story whose missing piece we filled, we filled it with something special that had helped enrich its diversity, and we are all the better for it.”
Source: National Geographic
“From 1963, when the assassination of JFK thwarted Captain Ed Dwight’s quest to reach the moon, to 2020, when the echoes of the civil unrest sparked by the killing of George Floyd reached the International Space Station, the story of African Americans at NASA is a tale of world events colliding with the aspirations of uncommon men.”
The bright dreams of Afrofuturism become reality in the buzzy Documentary, turning science fiction into science fact while giving us new heroes to celebrate and a fresh history to explore.”
Black history is American history, so it should be recognized every day. That said, every February, we have an opportunity to educate our students about the important events and figures that shaped this nation, while highlighting the realities we’re still facing today. To enhance these conversations, we’ve put together this list of powerful Black History Month poems for kids of all ages. We’ve also included brief biographies of these talented Black poets.
Note: Due to the nature of this topic, some Black history poems include references to slavery, violence, and death. Please review the poems before using them with your students to make sure they’re appropriate.
Jump to:
Poems by Famous Black Poets
Familiarize your students with these famous black poets by reading some of their top poems during Black History Month.
Nikki Giovanni initially wrote collections of poetry surrounding the militant themes of the Black Arts Movement. Eventually, she went on to publish 11 illustrated children’s books and penned poems such as Knoxville, Tennessee. She was the first recipient of the Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award.
Born Marguerite Annie Johnson, Maya Angelou was a poet, novelist, educator, memoirist, actress, civil rights activist, and so much more. She was shaped by experiences while living overseas in Egypt and Ghana, and worked alongside Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. (who was, tragically, assassinated on Angelou’s birthday). Her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970) was the first bestseller written by an African American woman. “On the Pulse of Morning,” one of her most famous poems, was recited at the 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton. Angelou received countless awards and earned more than 50 honorary degrees from various universities.
James Mercer Langston Hughes wrote many famous poems that are perfect for sharing with kids during Black History Month. He began writing poetry in his teens. After high school, he completed a year at Columbia University and worked as a cook, busboy, and seaman as he traveled to Mexico, Africa, and Europe. His first book of poetry, The Weary Blues (Knopf, 1926), received mixed reviews, but his first novel, Not Without Laughter (Knopf, 1930), won the Harmon Gold Medal for literature. Hughes was known for the insightful, relatable way he portrayed Black life from the 1920s through the 1960s in America.
Jacqueline Woodson has written more than 30 books for children and adults, earning honors such as the Coretta Scott King Award, the National Book Award, the Newbery Honor award, and the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults. From 2018 to 2019, she was the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and she served as the Poetry Foundation’s Young People’s Poet Laureate from 2015 to 2017.
In her poetry, Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks often wrote about ordinary people and their daily struggles and celebrations. In 1950, she became the first Black American to win a Pulitzer Prize. She went on to become the Poet Laureate of Illinois and the United States. She was the first Black woman inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Amanda Gorman caught the nation’s eye (and heart) with this inspiring poem, written and read at President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021. In 2017, she was named the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate, and in 2021 became the first to perform a poem at the Super Bowl. Her poetry collections for adults and children have been bestsellers, making her one of today’s most famous Black poets.
Born to parents enslaved before the American Civil War, Paul Laurence Dunbar began writing poetry and short stories when he was only a child. He became his high school literary society’s president. At just 16, the local newspaper published his first poems. He later became one of the first internationally known Black writers and even wrote the lyrics for In Dahomey (1903), the first all-Black musical comedy produced on Broadway.
This is one of Hughes’ most well-known poems, in which he wondered if a dream deferred would “dry up, like a raisin in the sun?” These lines inspired Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun, one of the most popular plays of the 20th century. Pair this Black history poem with readings from the play to give students a more complete picture of daily life for many Black Americans during the 1950s.
“Instead of sleeping / I walk with him from the store …”
For more than 20 years, Reuben Jackson served as curator of the Smithsonian’s Duke Ellington Collection in Washington, D.C. An educator and mentor with the Young Writers Project, Jackson’s many music reviews appeared in the Washington Post and other publications.
Lucille Clifton’s first book of poems, Good Times (Random House, 1969), was recognized by the New York Times as one of the best books of the year. Five years later, she left her government job and became a prolific poet, serving as Maryland’s Poet Laureate from 1979 to 1985. Her many accomplishments included winning the National Book Award, an Emmy Award, and being nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
Before earning his Ph.D., Jericho Brown worked as a speechwriter for the mayor of New Orleans. His work The Tradition (Copper Canyon Press, 2019) earned him the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Additional honors include a Whiting Writer’s Award, fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the 2022 Academy of American Poets Fellowship. Currently, Brown is an associate professor of English and Director of the Creative Writing Program at Emory University.
Self-described “literary activist” E. (Eugene) Ethelbert Miller earned a BA in African American studies from Howard University and serves on the board of progressive multi-issue think tank the Institute for Policy Studies. In addition to his poetry collections, Miller authored a memoir and edited multiple anthologies. The recipient of the 1993 Columbia Merit Award, First Lady Laura Bush honored him at the White House. Miller has held many academic positions, including director of the African American Studies Resource Center at Howard University since 1974.
James Weldon Johnson was a writer, civil rights activist, and leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). His poems, anthologies, spirituals, and novel became known during the Harlem Renaissance. Johnson wrote the lyrics while his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson, composed the music for “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” later known as the Negro National Anthem. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Johnson as U.S. Consul in Nicaragua and Venezuela. He later became the first Black professor at New York University.
“Is it difficult to get away from it all once you’ve had a child?”
The author of four collections of poetry and editor of anthologies, Camille T. Dungy’s honors include two NAACP Image Award nominations, NEA Fellowships in poetry (2003) and prose (2018), and two Hurston/Wright Legacy Award nominations. Dungy is currently a professor at Colorado State University. Her works can be found in more than 30 anthologies.
Danez Smith is a founding member of the multicultural, multigenre Dark Noise Collective. Published in numerous journals and magazines, they have been honored with the Lambda Literary Award and the Kate Tufts Discovery Award, as well as fellowships from Cave Canem, the McKnight Foundation, and Voices of Our Nation (VONA). They were also named a 2011 Individual World Poetry Slam finalist.
“Sometimes the deaf / hear better than the blind …”
Sometimes, a few simple words are all you need to spark classroom discussion. Miller used only seven brief lines to write about singer Billie Holiday’s impact on her audiences, but students can spend much more time writing about or debating the meaning behind these powerful words.
The imagery and description in this quietly evocative work is easy for kids to understand, showing them that poems can be relatable, no matter what your age. Ask them to write their own poem about the season they like best, describing the things that make it their favorite.
Dudley Randall started writing at just 13 years old with his first poem published in the Detroit Free Press. He graduated from high school three years later and went on to work at Ford Motor Company until he was laid off. While working as a postal carrier, he befriended poet Robert Hayden. Randall was drafted and served during World War II before earning a BA in English and an MA in Library Science. After working as a librarian and poet-in-residence at several universities, he became involved in the Black Arts Movement, established Broadside Press, and published works by Black poets.
Hughes knew that dreams are common to all, no matter what color their skin. In eight simple lines, he compares a life without dreams to “a broken-winged bird” and “a barren field.” Ask your students to come up with more metaphors and add their own lines to this popular and compelling example of Black poetry.
“The swift and sweet ones who hurdled history and opened a world of possible …”
A bestselling author, poet, producer, and more, Kwame Alexander has written nearly 40 books to date. His work The Undefeated is a poem turned into a gorgeously illustrated picture book for kids. It won numerous awards, including the Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor, and hearing him read it aloud in this video is a terrific way to share both Black poetry and Black poets with your students.
Many kids will identify with the story of a mother who wants her girls to learn to cook, while the boys are allowed to pick peaches and play outdoors. She eventually allows her daughters to join them, but notes that someday it may be “too late” for her to teach them at all.
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was a poet, journalist, fiction writer, and activist who published many collections of poetry, several novels, and essay collections. During Reconstruction, she fought for women’s rights, civil rights, and equal educational opportunities. She co-founded the National Association of Colored Women, was a member of the American Women’s Suffrage Association, and served as director of the American Association of Colored Youth.
Natasha Trethewey, the author of five collections of poetry, served two terms as the Poet Laureate of the United States. She is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Academy of American Poets, the Rockefeller Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Beinecke Library at Yale, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard. She has also served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets since 2019 and was awarded the 2020 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt Prize in Poetry for Lifetime Achievement from the Library of Congress.
Eve Louise Ewing is a poet, author, visual artist, and sociologist. She’s conducted research in the sociology of education on school closures, specifically in Chicago. A former editor at Seven Scribes, Ewing published a collection of poetry centered around the Chicago race riot of 1919. The tenured professor at the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago is also the author of Marvel’s Ironheart comic book series.
Gorman shifts gears in this poem about climate change, a topic many of today’s kids worry about too. Drawing inspiration from the famous photograph taken by Bill Anders aboard the Apollo 8 spacecraft, she writes of the need to look at Earth as a whole, a living organism for which we all bear great responsibility.
This heart-wrenching poem pulls no punches, as Harper describes a scene still all too common when she was a child living in Maryland. Difficult though it is to read and picture, these are the Black history stories that we must ensure are never forgotten and never repeated.
Elizabeth Alexander currently serves as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. She was chosen by Stephen Dunn, Jane Hirshfield, and Lucille Clifton to receive the Jackson Poetry Prize from Poets & Writers. Alexander’s memoir, The Light of the World (Grand Central Publishing, 2015), was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. In 2009, she composed “Praise Song for the Day” and recited it at President Barack Obama’s first presidential inauguration.
Kwame Dawes was born in Ghana, raised in Kingston, and went on to study and teach in New Brunswick, Canada. His Progeny of Air (Peepal Tree Press) received the Forward Poetry Prize for Best First Collection. In addition to his poetry, Dawes has published several works of fiction and edited many anthologies. His numerous honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship for Poetry, the Musgrave Silver Medal, and an Emmy Award. He currently serves as a Chancellor’s Professor of English at the University of Nebraska.
Toi Derricotte has published numerous books of poetry and has earned honors including the Frost Medal from the Poetry Society of America, the Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award, and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Derricotte is professor emerita of English at the University of Pittsburgh and served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 2012 to 2017.
Yusef Komunyakaa’s formative years came right at the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. After serving as a correspondent in the U.S. Army and earning a Bronze Star as managing editor of the Southern Cross during the Vietnam War, he began writing poetry. Over the years, he’s published numerous poems and books and received multiple honors including the 2011 Wallace Stevens Award and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Komunyakaa was elected a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets in 1999 and currently serves as a distinguished senior poet in New York University’s graduate creative writing program.
Bianca Lynne Spriggs has published five collections of poems and co-edited three poetry anthologies. With a focus on the connection between the identity of Black women in America’s South, art, and community, Spriggs draws from folklore, mythology, science fiction, and surrealism. Her honors include five Artist Enrichment Grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women, an Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship in Poetry, and the Sallie Bingham Award for feminist expression in the arts.
A former executive director for the Cave Canem Foundation, Nicole Sealey has been honored with the Drinking Gourd Chapbook Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the 2018 PEN Open Book Award. Sealey was also the recipient of a 2014 Elizabeth George Foundation Grant.
Roger Reeves’ poems have appeared in numerous journals, earning him a 2013 NEA Fellowship, two Bread Loaf Scholarships, a Ruth Lilly Fellowship by the Poetry Foundation, two Cave Canem Fellowships, and an Alberta H. Walker Scholarship from the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center. Reeves is currently an assistant professor of poetry at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
As a student at Harvard University, Kevin Young joined the Dark Room Collective, a community of Black writers. The author of many books of poetry and nonfiction essays, he was awarded a Stegner Fellowship from Stanford University, the Quill Award in Poetry, and the Paterson Award for Sustained Literary Excellence. After serving as the Atticus Haygood Professor of Creative Writing and English and curator of Literary Collections and the Raymond Danowski Poetry Library at Emory University for roughly a decade, Young is currently the director of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture and the poetry editor of the New Yorker.
Audre Lorde was an influential radical feminist, professor, writer, and civil rights activist. She described herself as a “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” who “dedicated both her life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia.” As a poet, she was masterful and left behind an incredible legacy.
The author of several collections of poetry, Cornelius Eady was a finalist for the 2001 National Book Award in Poetry and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Along with Toi Derricotte, Eady founded Cave Canem in 1996. The nonprofit organization provided Black poets with fertile ground for intellectual engagement and critical debate. Eady’s honors include a Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Award, the Prairie Schooner Strousse Award, and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Rockefeller Foundation, and the Guggenheim Foundation. Eady is currently a professor at SUNY Stony Brook in Southampton.
Haki R. Madhubuti is an educator, author, publisher, and poet. Among his greatest accomplishments is the founding of Third World Press, the oldest independent Black publishing house in the United States. His many honors include the Distinguished Writers Award, American Book Award, and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
“Long after it was necessary / Uncle Vess ate the leavings …”
In her work, Fanonne Jeffers takes a close look at race, culture, religion, and family. Her very first book, The Gospel of Barbecue (2000), was selected by Lucille Clifton for the Stan and Tom Wick poetry prize and was a 2001 Paterson Poetry prize finalist. Among her many honors, Jeffers received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and won the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writer of the Year. Currently, Jeffers is an associate professor of English at the University of Oklahoma, where she teaches creative writing.
June Millicent Jordan has several poems perfect for sharing with older kids during Black History Month. In addition to being a poet, she was also a teacher, essayist, and activist. Passionate about using Black English in her poetry and writing (and encouraging others to treat it as its own language), the themes she explored included race, gender, representation, and immigration. In 2019, the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument inducted Jordan.
Most people think of peanut butter when they hear Carver’s name (although he didn’t actually invent that). His scientific work was much broader and incredibly significant, but all anyone seems to remember him for is the peanut, as Jordan’s witty and sardonic poem reflects. Take this opportunity to learn more about Carver and his important agricultural and scientific studies.
“We never really had products that suited Black skin, so it was very hard for Black girls with darker skin to achieve that easy, breezy, you know, ‘I’m going to apply my foundation with my fingers on the train’ type look that maybe the white girls could do. We couldn’t do that, because there were no products for our skin tone. But now we can. And so we’re embracing that. And we’re showing different layers of our beauty.”
Beauty activist, expert, and founder of Ami Cole’ Beauty Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye is intent on moving the conversation forward and spreading the community across the globe. “We haven’t been included in a lot of makeup trends or beauty brands,” Diarrha says, commenting on the general lack of representation within the industry. “We’ve had to work with what was available to us.” As Black women have been continuously underserved in this space, she credits social media for “allowing us to tell our stories in real-time.” Speaking to its massive reach, Mela said, “Why not use it to hype each other up when others haven’t for so long?”
Hanifah recommends using the Nars Soft Matte foundation, Fenty Beauty lip paint, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze, Tom Ford Eye Colour Quads, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Setting Powder, and Kiko Milano lip gloss if you want to take a stab at the look.
Overall, the camaraderie of the ‘UK Black Girl’ aesthetic has sprung within creators and audiences during its growth is what stands out the most, and if the comments, follower counts, and millions of views are indicative of anything, it’s that a sisterhood that goes the distance has formed between Black beauty-lovers. That alone is worth the click.
Victoria Goldiee is a freelance writer and editor with a keen focus on headlining the untold stories of underrepresented communities through her platform. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, Architectural Digest, The Telegraph UK, The Metro UK and more as she cuts across issues focusing on women, culture and lifestyle.
The Prince and Princess of Wales marked the United Kingdom’s observance of Black History Month with a visit to their home territory.
Princess Kate and Prince William trekked to Cardiff Tuesday for an event commemorating Black History Month, celebrated in October in the UK, as well as the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush to London. The Empire Windrush was a liner carrying around 1,000 mostly West Indian passengers from Jamaica to London, with nearly 800 aboard listing their last place of residence as a Caribbean locale, and about 700 of those saying they planned to make a home in England. Immigrants from this period are often referred to as the “Windrush generation.”
The Waleses met with members of groups supporting diversity and growth in Wales, including representatives of the Windrush Cymru Elders, Black History Cymru 365, and the Ethnic Minority Youth Forum. Continuing in the theme of Princess Kate’s work with children, the royals also met with elementary school-aged kids. An 11-year-old named Gracie said that she and Kate had talked about what she learned in school, including lessons about Windrush, and how much she loved math.
“I said I like maths and like our teachers teaching us,” she told People. “And she said I could teach [Prince] George some maths!”
Another student, 8-year-old Lilly, told the outlet that after shaking hands with the royal couple, she had no immediate plans to suds away any royal traces that may be lingering.
“I’m not going to wash my hands now,” she said. “This one was Prince William and this one was Kate,” she said.
The UK marks “Windrush Day” annually on June 22, and Prince William will reportedly also appear in a documentary about the Windrush Generation in Britain later this month.
The monarchy’s legacy with immigrants, former colonies, and the Black community at large is complicated: Last year, when the Waleses toured the Caribbean, they were met with protests, and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness informed them that the country intended to become a republic and remove Queen Elizabeth (before she died) as head of state.
At a 2022 Windrush Day event unveiling a new monument in Britain, William reflected on the controversial trip: “Our trip was an opportunity to reflect and we learned so much,” he said. “Not just about the different issues that matter most to the people of the region, but also about how the past weighs heavily on the present.”
Black love stories depicted in movies, television shows and books have always been the epitome of true romance. Stories that we have rooted for, romance that we have gotten behind and the real-world societal issues that they have overcome that have always inspired us, these tales of unity are extraordinary.
With Black History Month upon us, we wanted to highlight the best relationship stories out there that embody black love, whether it’s a fan-favourite couple in our favourite series or a duo that has been through thick and thin to stand together till the very end. Some of these stories are nuanced and beautiful, while others pack a powerful punch when it comes to leaving us with a deeper meaning of love while portraying some of the stigmas and hardships that black couples face in the real world. In general, we can all learn a lesson or two from these love stories, whether it’s navigating the everyday family lives like Beth and Randall Pearson or the grief and traumas experienced by Queen & Slim.
So, without further ado, here are our best black love stories and representation across movies, television and books…
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
On June 19, 1865, Black folks in Galveston, Texas, were approached by 2,000 Union soldiers with good news: Slavery had been abolished. For the first time in 300 years, their families would finally know freedom. After the news of the abolishment of slavery had been heard in several other parts of the United States, people in Galveston were the last to know. It marked a new holiday where people all over the country could celebrate the turning of a page in American history: The end of slavery as they knew it.
Fast forward to today, educating ourselves on historical markers that represented a shift in American culture is under attack. Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a prime example. By definition, CRT is a “set of ideas holding that racial bias is inherent in many parts of western society, especially in its legal and social institutions, based on their having been primarily designed for and implemented by white people.”
In 2023, we would sum up CRT to mean simply “privilege” or “advantage” on the part of the dominant group in society. CRT asks us to look critically at the ways Juneteenth and other moments in American history came to be and why we should acknowledge the past so as not to replicate it in the present or future.
Talking about Black history is the first step toward our national healing. When we acknowledge the impact history has had on our collective experience, we can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and work towards ending the inequality and injustice that’s plagued our nation.
This Juneteenth, let’s take baby steps towards that national healing and focus on just having the conversation — the conversation that slavery was abolished not too long ago and that schools, workplaces, and other institutions should be talking about it in order for us to learn from the past and create a more equitable future.
Here are 6 do’s and don’ts for engaging in conversations about Juneteenth.
Do: Educate yourself on the holiday ahead of time
When it comes to conversations on historical topics, not everyone knows every detail of how historical events came to pass. The first thing to do when planning to engage in a conversation about Juneteenth is to educate yourself on the facts. When did Juneteenth happen? How did it happen? Why did it happen? Who authorized the abolishment of slavery? Why did it take so long for the slaves in Galveston, Texas, to hear about it?
Acquiring answers to these foundational questions ahead of time will arm you with a baseline of information that will inform more thoughtful conversations.
Do: Allow Black colleagues to speak on their Juneteenth perspectives but don’t put the burden on them to educate everyone
In 2023, it’s likely you work with a Black American or know one in your personal life. In the case of Juneteenth, don’t make the conversation a teacher-to-pupil dynamic. If a Black person in your life wishes to share their perspective or thoughts on Juneteenth, listen to them. Allow them to talk about their family traditions or how they choose to celebrate the day. You might even attend a Juneteenth celebration in your city and witness how Black folks express joy on the holiday. However, avoid targeting Black colleagues and acquaintances by asking them to educate you or expend mental energy to bring you up to speed. That’s your responsibility, not theirs. Strive for a friend-to-friend or colleague-to-colleague relationship on the topic of Juneteenth, not a teacher-to-pupil relationship.
Do: Create a safer space for the conversation
As I’ve shared in other posts, I don’t believe fully “safe” spaces exist. I do believe there are safer spaces where folks walk into a conversation with the best intentions and an open mind. If you choose to discuss Juneteenth in your workplace or institution, consider holding it in an intentional space with thoughtful touches.
For example, if you’re hosting an in-person conversation, have you thought about including a facilitator or someone who can set some ground rules to maintain a cordial atmosphere while the conversation ensues? In addition, are you aware of the literal temperature of the room? Will it be a physically comfortable space, or will it be too hot or cold for the number of attendees in the space? Are there soothing beverages available like coffee or tea for moments when people could use a sip of something warm? Think about the seating arrangement. Is the room set up in a hierarchical way where all chairs are pointed in one direction in the teacher-to-pupil dynamic that I referred to earlier, or are the chairs set up in a circle so all attendees can be seen and heard?
If you are choosing to send an email to your colleagues about Juneteenth, have you included a TL;DR or warning at the top of the email informing the recipients that the message they are about to receive contains information about Juneteenth and the history of slavery? As you can see, there are several ways to create a safer space that sets the foundation for a conversation that’s rich and enlightening as opposed to tense and uncomfortable.
After your in-person or online conversations, consider making a case for why Juneteenth should be a company holiday. Perhaps you have several Black colleagues who would appreciate the day off or, if there is a multicultural coalition of people who also support the idea, come prepared to discuss with leadership or HR to request the holiday be a part of the company’s paid time off roster. Like Labor Day, the 4th of July, and other national holidays, Juneteenth marks a turning point in American history that affected not only Black folx but every American in the U.S. Why not make the case for Juneteenth to be celebrated in the workplace like other national holidays?
Like other days involving Black history, companies, and individuals make the mistake of treating Juneteenth like a one-day event. The day comes and then it goes. But holidays like the 4th of July are celebrated over three or four days with an emphasis on pride and celebration. Juneteenth deserves the same acknowledgment. To enhance and elongate the holiday, give colleagues a runway of days during which to absorb historical information. For example, send an email about the history of Juneteenth one week ahead so people have time to absorb the content. You can also set up a small art exhibit or feature books and other historical information in a common space in the preceding month so people have time to reflect on the information. Host a book club featuring a Juneteenth-centered book so colleagues have a meaningful opportunity to be engaged in the history. In essence, preparing colleagues ahead of time will make the day that much richer–not just for your Black colleagues but for everyone involved.
Don’t: Wear performative clothing to show that you’re “down” with the cause
A common mistake companies and individuals make during Juneteenth is thinking that performative allyship is the way to celebrate and honor the holiday. That’s not true. Please avoid wearing dashikis or dawning red, green, and black colors on or around Juneteenth. For many Black people, it’s considered offensive and disingenuous. Avoid performative allyship at all costs, whether that’s your personal style choices or your company’s newest product promotion. The way to show Black folks and others who care about Juneteenth that you are engaged and want to pay your respects is by educating yourself, participating in meaningful conversations where you’re truly listening, and sharing this information with others in your life who may not know the history of Juneteenth. Those are steps towards allyship far more meaningful than wearing a dashiki.
While the celebration of Black history is, in general, condensed into one month in February, Black History Month, we often forget that Black history is American history and that we should be celebrating it year-round. Not everyone does and that’s okay. What we can do is inspire more people to engage by having meaningful conversations about what happened on June 19, 1865, and the historical context in which the event occurred. Only when we can pull the veil off of Black history and see that these events are significant for all Americans do we begin to let down our guard and welcome the truth about our country: That we did some awful things, but we’re learning from them. This Juneteeth, make meaningful conversations a priority.
As Black History Month comes to an end, Adriana Diaz takes a look at the legacy of Carter G. Woodson. The son of former slaves, Woodson founded the organization that created Negro Achievement Week, the precursor to Black History Month.
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It was an otherwise regular day in 2018 when Michelle Mokone made plans to attend a local market in Pretoria, South Africa. However, when a friend canceled, Michelle’s sister, Mo, volunteered to accompany her.
What neither of them realized at the time was how that day would spark a new trajectory for the sisters, one they’d never be able to turn back from.
Mesmerized by the artisans at the market — particularly those who made crafts out of recycled materials — Mo and Michelle were inspired to create something of their own. That very same night, Mo went home and researched how to get into the market, and a year later, Mo and Michelle were not only exhibiting regularly but also won best new product with their handwoven baskets made of recycled materials.
Meanwhile, the sisters were still working full-time — Mo as a VP of HR for Nestle and Michelle as an economist — so their side hustle, dubbed Mo’s Crib, remained a fun hobby to dedicate time to on the weekends.
“It’s not like we needed the money in any way, shape or form, but that was the beginning of everything for us because we were so at home at that market,” Mo recalls.
Although the sisters enjoyed their jobs at the time, Mo’s Crib and the market — its energy, customers and art — increasingly became a focal point in their lives. By late 2019, Mo’s Crib was doing business in markets throughout South Africa.
However, when the pandemic hit and the world shut down — including Mo and Michelle’s primary way to exhibit their products — it was time to reevaluate. Instead of abandoning Mo’s Crib or putting it on the back burner until the world opened up again, the two decided to go all in.
“When the pandemic hit, that’s when the real challenge was because we then had to be bold enough to leave our jobs and depend full-time on Mo’s Crib,” Michelle recalls.
When they realized the limits of their business and how they couldn’t sustain themselves or the brand by exclusively selling at markets (especially now that most were closed), they had to find alternatives. They pivoted their business model and began to sell wholesale to retailers throughout South Africa — but getting there? That definitely wasn’t easy.
“In those moments, you’re like, is it even worth it? But then you wake up in the morning and think to yourself, It is worth it.I will continue to hustle today.”
Having left their jobs, Mo and Michelle were working tirelessly to keep Mo’s Crib afloat — funneling savings, time and energy in the hopes they’d make it out on the other end.
“During that time, it was met by days when we would go hungry, where there was literally so much money in the business that we were running out of savings,” Michelle recalls. “There were many nights of questioning if we’d made the right decision because we were struggling so much. In those moments, you’re like, is it even worth it? But then you wake up in the morning and think to yourself, It is worth it.I will continue to hustle today.”
Hustle they did. After successfully pitching to homeware stores in South Africa, the sisters decided to expand even further and pitch internationally. The two had attended the tradeshow New York Now in 2019, where they received a special mention in the Best New Product Artisan Resource category. They decided to reach out to some of the brands they were exposed to at the convention, one of which was Crate & Barrel — which ultimately became one of Mo’s Crib’s biggest distributors.
Now, as Mo’s Crib continues to thrive, with its products sold in homeware stores across the globe, Mo and Michelle are committed to the art and quality of their handwoven baskets and ensuring that the people who make them have a high quality of life.
“It’s not just about shining light on the actual product, but it’s [ensuring] that the people that actually make the product, that their dreams also come true,” Michelle says. “Because more often than not, you find that the dreams of the people that make the product are forgotten or are not even spoken of.”
The sisters, who grew up in a working-class family, are open about understanding what it means to go to work and not know if you’ll have a meal that day or shelter when you get home. For Mo and Michelle, Mo’s Crib is more than a brand, it’s an opportunity for others to live out their dreams and end the cycle of poverty.
Beyond giving their employees a living wage, the sisters take a variety of steps to offer shelter and resources to their artisans, including free lodging if needed, transportation stipends, access to books, in-house medical care and what they call “Wellness Fridays,” wherein workers are given one free day off at the end of the month to recharge and focus on themselves.
“One of the things that we pride ourselves on is making sure that our employees come out of Mo’s Crib better than they were when they came in,” Mo explains. “We’ve got a 100% retention rate.”
Additionally, the sisters provide various resources for workers to achieve financial literacy, as many of the artisans had never had a steady paycheck before working for Mo’s Crib. Through collaboration with banks across South Africa, Mo’s Crib employees are educated on how to be savvy with their spending and saving.
“We had to really just put aside what we have taught, the doctrine of running businesses and the status quo and just lead with our hearts”
One artisan, Franz, came to Mo’s Crib on the verge of poverty, living in a tin house and barely able to support his family. Now, he’s able to support himself and his family and send his daughter to university — something he says he never could have achieved without his work at the company.
“It’s a way to break the chain of poverty in his lineage — for his daughter to have [an] education and be able to get into the job market and get a high-skills job that will change the trajectory of the family,” Michelle says.
When asked about the importance of other companies offering similar benefits to their employees, the sisters emphasize that it has to be people over profit — something that comes naturally to them because of their humble beginnings.
“We know what it is to be a Black girl in South Africa growing up without a household that can uplift you, get you to education and sustain your livelihood,” Mo says. “It was really important for us when we built a company to remember where we come from, honor our journey and make sure that we can sustain the livelihood of those that work for us.”
Although they say not everyone who starts a company has experienced the journey to their extent, one pillar they preach to other business owners is leading with compassion. Instead of falling back on the unspoken doctrine of what people are taught about business, lead as a human being first. If an employee is consistently late, instead of reprimanding them or giving a warning, ask why they’re late — what is going on in their life?
“We had to put aside what we’ve been taught, the doctrine of running businesses and the status quo and just lead with our hearts,” Michelle says. “When you do that, you are meeting people at the human level. You’re able to see that we are one. And it’s important to understand compassion even in a professional context.”
During what I would call my rookie season—my first season as an editor—of New York Fashion Week back in the fall, I attended the Black in Fashion Council showroom preview held in Downtown Manhattan at Spring Studios. I was obviously bursting with excitement to just be attending fashion week in the first place, but to get to go to this preview in particular meant a lot to me. As a young Black girl, I was always hungry for all things glamour and fashion and spent my time dreaming about what it would be like to become an editor, so walking into a fashion-week preview that was so unapologetically Black did more for me than I had imagined it would. What really stood out to me was my conversation with designer Kwame Adusei. Both of us have African roots (he is from Ghana, and I am a first-generation American with a father from Malawi), so we immediately bonded over our love for fashion and African culture. While Kwame walked me through his collection, he told me, “The truth is we can wear anything and be fly because we are Black. It’s just in us.” His comment made me start to think about how Blackness translates to style and swag.
When I think of the Black fashion editors, publicists, and influencers who I follow and work with and who inspire me, they all have it. It’s not something that you can exactly put your finger on, and it’s not something that is a one-size-fits-all type of energy. It’s a certain je ne sais quoi in style, confidence, strength, and beauty that radiates from them, and it’s how they have figured out how to have such strong personal style. Before Black History Month comes to an end, I had to tap some of my favorite Black fashion experts to learn about the brands hanging in their highly curated closets. These eight Black fashion experts who are all based in New York City spilled on the brands they connect with and are loving at the moment.
Their answers not only put me on to new designers that I cannot wait to try for myself, but they also highlighted so many Black fashion designers that you, after reading this, will be obsessed with, too, if you aren’t already. Keep scrolling to read my conversations with some of the most stylish Black fashion people, learn about my own favorites, and even shop the brands we can’t get enough of.
