Black History Month
February 1 - February 28
Black History Month is celebrated every February to recognize and honor the rich cultural heritage, history, and contributions of African Americans to the United States and the world. Established in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as "Negro History Week," it was expanded to a month in 1976, during the U.S. Bicentennial. The month serves as a reminder of the profound impact African Americans have had in shaping the nation and advancing society in countless fields, from the arts and science to politics and civil rights.
The Importance of Black History Month
- Understanding History: Black History Month encourages reflection on African American triumphs and struggles, including slavery, segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement, and how these shape modern social and political issues.
- Celebrating African American Contributions: It honors the vital roles African Americans have played and still play throughout history often in the face of adversity.
- Promoting Education and Awareness: This month fosters education about African American culture and achievements in areas like music, art, literature, science, and leadership, deepening understanding and appreciation.
- Inspiring Future Generations: By highlighting role models who overcame challenges, Black History Month empowers young people with pride and the belief in their ability to make a lasting impact.
Why We Continue Celebrating Black History Month
Black History Month acknowledges the struggles, achievements, and contributions of African Americans while emphasizing the ongoing need for racial equity. It highlights voices often silenced, celebrates resilience and creativity, and honors the profound impact of African Americans on U.S. and global history. This observance equips future generations with the understanding needed to combat prejudice and inspires us all to work toward a more inclusive world.
UCI Library Collections
Read
- “Celebrations of Diaspora: The Work of FESTAC ‘77” by Lindsay J. Twa examines the cultural, political and social significance of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, held in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1977 (known as FESTAC ’77). The book explores how this major event brought together people from around the globe, celebrating African heritage and diaspora identity through art, performance, and scholarly exchange. Twa’s work emphasizes the festival’s impact on global African consciousness, artistic collaboration, and the creation of a shared space for African and Black peoples to explore their cultural identities and histories.
- The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein. This "powerful and disturbing history" exposes how American governments deliberately imposed racial segregation on metropolitan areas nationwide ―New York Times Book Review
Watch
- Why We Must Confront the Painful Parts of US History (2020) by Hasan Kwame Jeffries
To move forward in the United States, we must look back and confront the difficult history that has shaped widespread injustice. Revisiting a significant yet overlooked piece of the past, Hasan Kwame Jeffries emphasizes the need to weave historical context, no matter how painful, into our understanding of modern society – so we can disrupt the continuum of inequality massively affecting marginalized communities.
- Black Joy (2022)
This original three-part series from Rhode Island PBS provides a unique perspective into how Rhode Island’s Black community draws upon joy as a source of strength. Through food, the arts, and mental health, each episode explores the rich history, tradition, and legacy of joy and its essential role in persevering through collective hardship. The series celebrates what author and civil rights advocate Van Jones describes as “the boundless capacity of the African American spirit in this country to say Hallelujah anyhow, to use our JOY as a weapon, to use our creativity as a weapon, to use our moral clarity and our deep experience as a weapon not just to save Black people but to save all of these people."
Listen
- Legacies: The Poetry of Nikki Giovanni read by Nikki Giovanni (1976)
“Those who have gone before and those who are yet to be birthed – it is to these that we owe our legacies. I am hopeful we are at least as strong as our foreparents and I am confident we will be as intelligent as the next century requires.” This collection of poetry by author and activist Nikki Giovanni (1943-2024) explores the relationships between generations, and the wisdom
- “We Are Not Strangers Here”: African American History in Rural California
This six-part Cal Ag Roots podcast series from the California Institute of Rural Studies highlights hidden histories of African Americans who have shaped California’s food and farming culture from early statehood to the present. Episodes discuss early Black settlers and homesteaders, the building of Black communities in rural California, Allensworth and the Black Utopian Dream, and contemporary Black farmers and agricultural stewardship.
Engage
- REAL Talk: From Dreams to Action: Activism Rooted in MLK’s Legacy and Black Feminism. Hosted by the Cross-Cultural Center. Register here.
- Lost Voices of Revolution: Growing Up in the Black Panther Party. Hosted by Illuminations: The Chancellor’s Arts & Culture Initiative. Register here.
- 28 Days of Black History. Free subscription that provides 28 quick history lessons, link to more information and reflection questions. Find more here.