Join HIPRC in celebrating Black American History by learning and reflecting on the achievements, influences and legacies of our fellow Black Americans. Each year, communities across our nation rise together in celebrating Black American History with respect to establishing safe and equitable spaces, where all Black life will continue to be sustained, fortified, respected and honored.
February is Black History Month. As we reflect what it means to be Black in this country, let us focus our actions and interactions on our responsibility to bring about change.
Black History Month (also known as African American History Month and Celebration of the African Diaspora) began as Negro History Week in February of 1926. Fifty years later, President Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976 as a month-long national observance occurring in February.
In February of 1926, U.S. Scholar Carter G. Woodson (also known as the “founding father of Black history”) established Negro History Week.
Today, the United States, Canada and United Kingdom celebrate Black history during the month of February to encourage people of all ethnic and social backgrounds to recognize and discuss systemic racism, the Black experience and give visibility to people and organizations creating change in our communities, and world.
The official colors of Black History Month and its flag are red, black, green and yellow:
The 2023 theme of Black History Month, “Black Resistance,” explores the fight for justice against discrimination, bodily autonomy and self-determination in American society, from employment to education to housing.
According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), Black History Month recognizes how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings since our nation’s earliest days.”
As we rise together in celebration of Black achievement, it is also important we take stock of where systemic racism persists and give visibility to the people and organizations actively creating change in our world. Learn more about the origins of Black History Month >>
The Story Behind Black History Month and why it’s celebrated in February (NPR) >>
The University of Washington’s Book Store encourages readers to grab a copy of these books beyond Black History Month and other published works >>
Check out these books by Ralina L. Joseph, Director for the Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity (CCDE):
Take a look at this Anti-Racist reading list curated by Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to be an Antiracist >>
Check out this TED Talk playlist in celebration of Black History Month to be inspired by thoughtful ruminations on Black identity and culture. Prefer to just listen? Here’s a Black History Month Playlist of podcasts >>
28 Days of Black History: A virtual exhibition of 28 works that celebrate Black legacy in the U.S., offering an introduction to a moment in Black history exemplified by the art, literature or artifact featured for the day >>
National Parks Named in Honor of African Americans: There are more than 400 national parks across the country of different shapes, sizes, naming designations, and reasons for being created. African American history is preserved and shared in many national parks with some being created as monuments to remember specific individuals in our nation’s history >>
Safe States is celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black public health pioneers. Each Monday during the month of February, Safe States will share a short video via its YouTube Channel to highlight the contributions of different Black pioneers and reflect on the importance of celebrating Black history. Watch Now >>
Safe States invites you to learn more and share in the history of Black History Month. Check out these educational resources >>
UW Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity (CCDE) is working to combat our mourning with a celebration of the lives of so many lost recently to needless violence. We come together in community to celebrate the lives of our Asian/American communities in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, and Tyre Nichols in Memphis. We celebrate life because we have no answers for racialized violence. Instead, we offer poetry as salve. Josh Griffin, poet, intellectual, and day-to-day, the CCDE’s program manager, is sharing his beautiful “Ode to Tyre” to help us celebrate, and not just mourn. Please take a listen >>
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has a number of upcoming virtual events exploring Black history and culture. Its new digital initiative, the Searchable Museum, has multimedia narratives, collections and various educational resources >>
American College of Surgeons (ACS) Celebrates Black Surgeons and Their Achievements with a NEW Book entitled “Black Surgeons and Surgery in America” >> FREE PDF Download for ACS Members >> Also available to purchase online at the ACS Store
Public Health – Seattle & King County – Racism is a public health crisis: the transformation starts here. It starts with us.
UW Medicine’s Affinity Groups meet quarterly to provide a supportive space to talk, be heard, connect, and celebrate community engagement through antiracist work >>
In parallel with UW Medicine’s Affinity Groups, a NEW Series of White Anti-racist Groups (WAG) provide an explicit opportunity for white colleagues who want to stand in solidarity with and support BIPOC colleagues >>
Use this Black Virtual Wellness Directory to connect with a Black therapist, doula, yoga teacher, mediator or other virtual provider!
Supporting Black-owned businesses – this month and all year long – is an easy and effective way to show solidarity with Black entrepreneurs whose products and services deserve patronage! To start, visit the Whole U, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Black Business Directory, Seattle Good, or Intentionalist for names and locations of Black-owned businesses in throughout the Greater Seattle area. Sweet Bonus: Check out these six local Black-owned bakeries or grab a cup at Black Coffee Northwest >>
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions provides resources and tools to help your organization improve its person-centered, recovery-oriented and equitable integrated care. Learn more >>
44 Mental Health Resources for Black People Trying to Survive in This Country was published by SELF magazine to provide a helpful list of mental health resources that offer support, validation, and celebrate Blackness!
Mental Health Resources for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)