Black History Month 2021 has posed a few logistical challenges with in-person celebrations with loved ones and physical activities due to COVID-19. Like many other events that have been curtailed, there are many ways in which we can celebrate and honor the month and our history.
Virtual Events
Throughout the month of February, many museums have virtual programs and tours you can take advantage of. Most are free but may require registration. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) for example has launched a series of virtual events on African Americans throughout history.
The NMAAHC is also, with the help of a certified genealogical lecturer, offering tips and services to help African Americans navigate court and probate records in search of relatives who lived prior to the Civil War.
You can find their full list of events here.
Support Black Businesses
There is no better time than now to support Black owned businesses. It’s Black History Month and there should be a concerted effort to celebrate and honor the month and, it’s estimated that 40% of Black owned businesses closed between February and April of 2020, twice the decline by White owned businesses.
With Valentines Day coming up, support a Black owned restaurant. If you’re uncomfortable with dining in, order take out. If you need help with finding Black owned restaurants get the Eatokra app. It’s a guide that is specifically designed for Black owned restaurants and I’ll have the owner on with me in the Culture Report. And, in Chicago it’s Black Restaurant Week! Get reservation or order in early. Restaurants have reduced capacity during this time.
To enhance your at-home experience shop Black! Look for Black Owned or produced wines like one of my favorites, Brown Estate Wines in Napa. I especially like their Zinfandel and Syrah. One thing my lady squad did this year was to gift each other Black-owned wines for our birthdays.
Donate
Donate to a cause or organization that benefits the Black communities. There’s a list of causes and organizations you can search. Find one that speaks to you. That being said, museums can always use donations. Museum donations typically come with a membership of varying levels and benefits.
African American bone marrow donors are greatly needed. The BeTheMatch Foundation could use bone marrow and monetary donations to help sustain life, especially for African Americans facing blood cancers and disorders like sickle cell disease.
Plan your Black History Travel Itinerary
Start planning your travel itinerary now to include Black History sites. They need interest, visitors, and donations to survive. Not sure where to go? If you’re interested in the Civil Rights Movement, Deborah Douglas curated a US Civil Rights Trail in a guide book that is complete with planning tools, personal experiences, and general tourism elements, it’s the “U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places, and Events That Made the Movement”
Visit A Black Historic Site, Museum, Monument Or Memorial
If you are visiting a site now, check their website for closures, operating hours, COVID19 protocols, and reservation requirements.
Yours truly,
