The New Year Starts Now - With Black History Month

Our decisions were made separately but somehow ended up being the same. January did not count; our new year would start on February 1, the first day of Black History Month.

Katura: Remember do overs? Maybe you were racing your friends and your sneaker came untied as soon as someone yelled ‘SET!’ You didn’t get a good start, much less win, so you declared the whole race didn’t count. I don’t know the adult equivalent of that, but I knew I needed one. 

Bria: In golf, they call it a Mulligan!

Katura: Yeah — that. Cause 2023 was not the best. And January 2024 brought that same energy. Since time is a social construct anyway, I thought why not ignore January and start the new year with one of my favorite celebrations: Black History Month. 

Bria: I read that celebrating the new year on January 1, was a recent historical development and something about the start of this year didn’t feel right. Then I spent two plus weeks in January sick, so I decided that it was only right that I celebrate my improved health on the anniversary of Black love, accomplishment and achievement.

Katura: There’s something about being immersed in Black history and culture that makes me feel renewed anyway, so this second start is perfect.

Bria: This post-pandemic life has been a consistent exercise in readjusting, pivoting and questioning everything we thought to be true about living. Black History Month gives us the space to celebrate and see ourselves beyond others’ limitations and myopic viewpoints of us. And for me, February is great reminder to do that all year.

Katura: As one of our favorite memes puts it: “We celebrate all year. February is just our anniversary.” 

A few things we’re looking forward to this Black History Month:

Invisible Beauty on Hulu 

Kings From Queens on Peacock

Gospel on PBS 

Genius MLKX on ABC and Hulu

Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America (Philadelphia)

Writing Our Future (Montclair, NJ) - Feb. 17

 

Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism (NYC)

The King Center’s Black History Is Now campaign 

National African-American Read In - Feb. 29

Bria R. Griffith is a multi-industry organizational leader on a mission to connect community and business to implement strategies that promote social and economic equity.

Katura Hudson is a writer and strategist with a passion for community; Black history; and New Edition.