Black History Month started as Black History Week in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson.  His goal was to bring attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history.  There are some that say that Black History Month is no longer needed, especially after the election of Barack Obama as our 44th President.  Others feel that blacks are still largely ignored in American History books, and the need is still there.  Several years back actor Morgan Freeman called Black History Month “ridiculous,” and said “You’re going to relegate my history to a month?” “I don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history.”

No matter what you believe about the month, there are many different ways to celebrate if you choose to do so.  I’m giving you 28 ideas.  Do one, all, some, or come up with your own ideas.  The point is to get you thinking about  Black History and the contributions that were made by blacks. And remember, Black History isn’t just something for black people to observe, it’s meant to be recognized by all.  Enjoy!

1.   Have a conversation with an older person and get their thoughts on the civil rights movement of the 60′s from their personal perspective.

2.   Take a walk on Boston’s Black Heritage Trail either on the actual trail or CLICK HERE to “walk” the trail online.

3.   Download free podcasts on iTunes.  For example: African-American’s in Science, and Voices from the Days of Slavery.

4.   Look up quotes by famous African-American’s for inspiration

5.   Visit local museums featuring black exhibits and works from black artists.  The Children’s Museum in Boston has a Black in Boston exhibit.

6.  Find children’s books celebrating black history and read them to your child, nieces & nephews, or any other young person.

7.   Discover and read poetry from black poets.

8.   With the Winter Olympics taking place this month, do some research on former black Olympians.

9.   Find out what things you use every day that were invented by black people.

10.  Watch or read a play by a black playwright.

11.  Discover some legendary black musicians, then download & listen to some of their music.

12.  Spend some time thinking about some of the rights we take for granted that black people didn’t always have like: voting, reading, being educated, getting married and more.

13.  Check your local TV listings (A & E, The History Channel, HBO, etc) for specials on black history.

14.  Read the Newsweek article, The End of Black History Month?  Get it HERE.

15.  Support a black artist by buying a piece of their artwork.

16.  Donate your time or money to a black organization.

17.  Check out History.com for a wealth of information about Black History Month and to view videos about The Harlem Renaissance, The March on Washington, and more.

18.  Patronize a black-owned business.

19.  Watch a movie related to black history: Amistad, A Soldier’s Story, Roots, A Raisin in the Sun, etc.

20.  Make an Adire cloth.  In Africa, the cloth is used for both decoration and communication.  CLICK HERE for more information and to find out how to make one.

21.  Learn to play Mancala, an ancient African board game.

22.  Take an African dance class.

23.  Plan a dinner for friend and prepare traditional African dishes you find recipes for online or in cook books.

24.  Check your local libraries for special activities they may have planned for the month.

25.  It doesn’t hit Boston until April, but get your tickets early for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Citi Wang Theater.

26. Discover Black filmakers and watch one of their movies.

27.  Watch or read the story of Ben Carson, Gifted Hands.

28.  Vow to make Black History a part of your history year-round!

Thank you for reading!  If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave a comment!

Just my humble opinion…Pebbles