Honoring Black History in February…and Beyond

Honoring Black History in February…and Beyond

Written, Edited, and Researched by: CASA’s Antiracism Focus Group

Black History Month was established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Black author and historian, as an avenue to honor and celebrate the achievements and legacies of Black Americans – contributions Dr. Woodson noted were largely missing from American history books and classrooms. Dr. Woodson dedicated his life to expanding the study and celebration of Black history. It is important to note, although February is designated as Black History Month, Dr. Woodson never viewed Black history as a month-long affair. Black history is American history, and Dr. Woodson professed Black history be taught and celebrated all year long.

In honor of Black History Month and Dr. Woodson’s legacy, we are sharing five concrete ways we can honor Black history this month and every day.

1. Take time to educate yourself about Black leaders who, throughout history, have influenced your field of work. You can start by learning about these trailblazing Black women in child welfare and social work.

2. Support Black-owned businesses. Here’s a list of some of the Black-owned businesses you can support in our local community!

3. Celebrate Black voices by purchasing and reading books by Black storytellers, leaders, and historical figures. Consider purchasing books at locally Black-owned bookstores like The Dock Bookshop in Fort Worth.

4. Talk with the children in your life about Black history. Here are some suggestions for having these conversations.

5. Watch a film or documentary about Black history. Many popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are specifically highlighting these films this month!

We encourage you to think about how you celebrate Black History Month and how you can be an active advocate all year long. How are you honoring and celebrating this month? We’d love to hear from you!