Hi friend,  

Happy Valentine's Day! In the spirit of Black History Month, we're celebrating Black love— and not just romantic love, but love as a form of healing, revolution, and an expression of collective joy. Now more than ever, when our people are forced to confront political attacks against our history and our culture, we must remember that love remains at the heart of collective action. 

The renowned author, bell hooks, in her book Salvation: Black People and Love reminds us that, 

“Love is profoundly political. Our deepest revolution will come when we understand this truth” 

Black love has sustained our communities and our movements to make change possible. It is found in the celebration of our culture, when we uplift our history, when we deepen the bonds with our friends and family, and when we appreciate the different parts of each other that shape all of our unique experiences with Blackness. So today and every day, remember that love is in our activism and in the acts of care we show towards one another, not just in our romantic relationships. When we celebrate the joy found in Black love, we’re also making a commitment to radical hope for a better world! 

To learn more about Black love as resistance, check out our reading list below! We hope you’ll continue reflecting on love all month long and beyond. 

A Look Ahead:

Did you know that this year’s theme for Black History Month is African- Americans & Labor? While loving and fighting are often framed in opposition to each other, the efforts of Black workers resisting low wages, unfair working conditions and exploitation shows that love is not just an individual experience, but something deeply communal. When we show up for each other in the fight for labor and economic justice, we honor a love that is radical, collective, and enduring. 

If you’re looking to dive deeper into the history of Black workers in the labor movement, stay tuned at the end of the month for a comprehensive syllabus exploring the history of Black labor and labor movements in the U.S.!

With love,

Jasmine Dean (She/Her)
Communications Manager, URGE 

URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity
1012 14th Street NW, Suite 305
Washington, DC xxxxxx
United States

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