Happy Black History Month, John!
As we vision and build Black Futures, we are deeply committed to the African principle of Sankofa -- that we must embrace and honor the freedom fighters, struggles, and lessons learned from the past as we chart the course forward.
Black History Month was founded initially as Negro History Week in 1926 by our honored Ancestor Dr. Carter G. Woodson, and taken as a month of remembrance by Black Student Union organizers at Kent State University in 1969. It was, and continues to be, an expression of Black autonomy.
While the U.S. government did not recognize Black History Month until 1976, our power as Black people has always persisted. Through every single movement, fight, and collective action, we stood on the shoulders of those who came before us, and continue to do that now.
As we loudly proclaim that #BlackHistoryMatters, highlighting key figures, movements, and moments in partnership with Scholars 4 Black Lives and our neXus Project, we also move boldly towards
Black Futures – with visionary, forward-looking celebrations of Blackness.
Radically imagining Black Futures is a necessary step in building a world in which all Black people are self-determined, liberated, and free.
Black Lives Matter remains deeply committed to doing the work that our most righteous warrior Ancestors require…carrying forward this iteration of Black freedom struggle. This is also the call of the generations that are to come.
Our struggle is beautiful and takes many forms…from Black love to Black art, from Black intellectualism to Black organizing – This is a month to us, our history, and our futures.
Please be sure you're following us on social media to catch all of our #BlackHistoryMatters posts and events this month:
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter
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