Each year, Black History Month calls us to remember our nation’s transformative historical figures, cultural icons, and inspirational leaders. It also should move us to reflect on the unsung heroes who "fought the same injustices and prejudices of our society—not on a grand scale, but on a human scale,” writes Fred Riley, executive director of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute. Riley reflects on his childhood influences, from his high school English teacher to his family’s pastor, who “showed the same love and strength, day in and day out… one person at a time.”

It is this fundamental approach to fighting injustice—through daily actions performed by individuals, by communities, by institutions—that underlies the Institute’s efforts to build a more just and equitable society, during this month and the other eleven too.

Americans of Black-Indigenous heritage often find themselves caught between cultures, considered neither Black enough nor Native enough to satisfy others, even in their own communities. The interweaving of Black and Native cultures is often ignored and rarely taught. The Institute’s Center for Native American Youth hosted an event celebrating Black and Indigenous excellence, welcoming a frank discussion about the erasure of those with blended heritage, and their pride in their multiple identities.

Although many Americans express dismay over political talk at the dinner table, the story of food justice is historically aligned with the politics of the civil rights movement. In particular, the Black Panther Party created a community-funded free breakfast program that became a model for the nation and for legislation. Conversations on Food Justice, a series of talks from the Institute’s Food & Society Program and Share Our Strength, looks at those past efforts, and considers what food justice means today.

The literary world’s recent and belated focus on Black literature led to the elevation of a few undeniable giants, and many more Black writers are on the cusp of the national spotlight. Aspen Words offers up five fantastic books from Black authors, literary debuts that are artful, powerful, and worthy additions to any reading list of the great American tradition.

The lack of investment in HBCUs is a perennial missed opportunity and one that should teach us about creating a more equitable future for young people. Last fall, the Aspen Partnership for an Inclusive Economy, the College Excellence Program and Weave hosted a three-part series on the future of HBCUs, the unique challenges they face in the pandemic, and what is needed moving forward.

For years, Black religious organizations have exposed racial discrimination and fought inequity in majority-white institutions. But there is more work to be done, says Rev. Billy Honor, a scholar and civic organizer. Writing as part of the Institute’s Inclusive America Project, he argues that Black religious communities should spend time creating spaces that affirm Black life and less time fighting for room in white-led spaces.

To understand Black experience, we should think like historians and dig deeply into contemporaneous sources. The Citizenship & American Identity Program points the way with a resource-filled article about three abolitionists and their writings and collections, shedding light not only on what actions they were taking but also the big questions they and the country wrestled with at the time.

Many great Black cultural and political leaders graced the Aspen Institute’s stages over the years, and we are fortunate to have preserved hours of those appearances on video. Take a look back and watch The Atlantic’s Clint Smith reciting his poem “Place Matters,” Mae Jamison recounting her journey as the first African-American woman in space; Wynton Marsalis and Jon Batiste reflecting on Black music history; and the late Congressman John Lewis recounting his participation in the historic Freedom Rides. Or listen to the Aspen Ideas To Go podcast Black History Month playlist, featuring author Ibram X. Kendi, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and more.

A National Agenda for Financial Inclusion at Aspen Ideas RE$ET

Feb. 23 at 4:00 pm EST

If the fundamentals of the US economy are strong, why are so many individuals left behind? Join Mastercard Vice Chairman Mike Froman, former White House Economic Advisor Adrienne Harris, and Grameen America CEO Andrea Jung for an interactive Aspen Ideas RE$ET conversation on financial inclusion, sponsored by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.

The Cost of Jail Calls and Commissary Markups

Feb. 23 at 1:00 pm EST

Incarcerated people’s loved ones, primarily low-income women of color, covered the cost of 80% of local jail phone calls. The consequences of these charges strip the savings and resources of entire families. Join the San Francisco Financial Justice Project and the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program for a conversation on how cities and counties can implement racially equitable reforms for people who are incarcerated.

Addressing Job Quality and Equity in a Time of Crisis: Tools and Case Studies from Local Government, Workforce Development, and Policy Advocacy

Feb. 24 at 2:00 pm EST

Even before the pandemic and associated economic fallout, one in four working adults in the US earned a wage insufficient to lift a small family out of poverty. In this webinar with the Economic Opportunities Program, hear from leaders in government, advocacy, and workforce development on new tools and approaches to address the challenges of job quality and equity.

Public Health Grand Rounds at the Aspen Institute – Suicide Prevention During COVID and Beyond

Feb. 24 at 1:00 pm EST

Millions across the United States are struggling with mental health issues as a direct result of the pandemic. During this Health, Medicine and Society Program event, Dr. Deb Houry, Director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, will present new data on suicide deaths in the United States and focus on the critical steps for mitigating suicide risk during these unprecedented times.

Closing Opportunity Gaps by Investing in Black Financial Institutions

Feb. 26 at 1:00 pm EST

From the tragic murder of George Floyd to the shocking attack on the US Capitol, recent events have moved society to call for transformational action to address systemic, institutionalized racism. In this panel, we’ll learn how Henry Crown Fellows are tackling issues that divide society and limit our collective prosperity.

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What the Abolitionists Thought You Should Know about US History