Black History Month 2026: It’s Our Anniversary!

Katura: Every Black History Month, we remind folks: “We celebrate all year. February is just our anniversary.”

 
This year is an extra special anniversary because it marks 100 years since the great Carter G. Woodson, a former sharecropper and miner, turned scholar—launched the first Negro History Week, which became Black History Month in 1976.

One hundred years after Woodson’s vision and advocacy first made history, the organization he founded, ASALH—Association for the Study of African American Life and History, makes it plain: This is our moment to work even harder to protect, preserve, and promote Black history.

But we are clear. It’s always been our moment. To quote Karsonya Wise Whitehead, ASALH National President: “This is not new work. This is not a new struggle. These are not new obstacles. We have been here before and we know what to do.”

Bria: Black History Month is both a celebration and a call to action—wherever you are in the world. It’s a reminder to buy Black by intentionally supporting Black-owned businesses;  support Black by amplifying Black voices and protecting Black lives; love Black by honoring the beauty, creativity, and humanity of Black people; and learn Black by digging deeper into histories, cultures, and contributions that are too often erased or minimized. 

From your own corner of the globe, your choices matter: what you purchase, what you share, what you study, and what you stand up for. When we commit to learning Black stories extra hard and showing up with our resources, respect, and solidarity, Black history becomes not just a month—but a daily practice of justice, appreciation, and care.

Here are a few ways we’re practicing our year-round celebration of US! How are you celebrating? Comments are on. Share your recommendations below!

Events

Black History Month Showcase at POST Houston (Feb. 1, Houston)

RU-N with Legacy: Celebrating 100+ Years of Black Excellence (Feb. 2, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ)

BAIA Fine Art Print Fair at the Houston Museum of African American Culture (Feb. 6-8, Houston)

Third Ward Black History Month Bus Tour (Feb. 7, Houston)

Black History Month Read-In & Book Fair (Feb. 21, East Orange, NJ)

61st Annual Commemoration for the Life & Legacy of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, Malcolm X (Feb. 21, NYC)

Honoring Jazz Black History Month Celebration (Feb. 25, East Orange, NJ)

Genealogy workshops at Freedmen’s Town / African American History Research (Houston)

“The Black Experience: Past, Present and Future,” exhibition (Houston) 

Freedom exhibit, Studio Montclair Gallery (Montclair, NJ)

Content

Great Migrations: A People on the Move (PBS)

Our Ancestors Were Messy podcast 

Crash Course: Black American History (YouTube)

100 Black Voices Schomburg Centennial Reading List 

28 Days of Black History

Liberation Calendar, a daily guide for an intentional Black History Month practice

ASALH 2026 Black History Month Virtual Convening (replay)

Summers With Our Mothers’ Mothers

Bria and Grandma Ella Mae; Katura and Mimi

On Threads sometime in July, someone asked “where did you summer?” This was after Ralph Lauren dropped their new Oak Bluffs collection, a campaign that prompted a lot of conversation about Martha’s Vineyard, Black folks, and vacation.

Some of the comments on that thread were judgey. But then there was another post — about spending summers with grandma. Which, for many of us, was the answer to the original question.

And the replies were everything. Watching “In the Heat of the Night.” Showered and dressed by 6:30 am. Tearing up Burlington and JC Penney. Setting grandma’s hair with rollers. No rules. 50-11 rules. Good food. Quality time.

Simpler times…

Portsmouth, VA with Mimi

I spent a lot of summers in Portsmouth. Sometimes it was with my parents and brother. But my strongest memories are of when it was just Mimi and me. I don’t remember details of getting there, though I’m sure my parents drove and dropped me off. But I have vivid memories of being there. Pressing the button on the garage door opener from my seat in Mimi’s car. Beelining to her bedroom to select a new polish from the dozens of bottles that sat on her dresser. Helping cook dinner at night, and sneaking extra sugar to put on my grapefruit in the morning. Mimi had grapefruit spoons, which was the only reason I even wanted to eat grapefruit in the first place. 

First and fifth visit to Mimi’s. Missing teeth in both.

During the day we’d go visiting folks, like Mrs. Gregory, her neighbor who in my mind was 100 years old, though I’m not sure Mimi ever told me that. Sometimes folks visited us — and I’d sit on the porch in one of Mimi’s white metal rocking chairs, listening just enough to be polite but also being sure to stay out of grown folks’ business. We’d clip coupons and grocery shop together, then go to the ice cream shop on High Street to splurge on cups of peaches and cream. Mimi kept everything.  Old yearbooks, all of her children’s trophies, my mom’s homecoming court gown. We spent hours looking at old photos and talking about family. I had a hard time keeping the branches of our family tree straight. How are the Carters and the Watsons related twice, again? Mimi enjoyed reminding me. We went to the beach a few times. Went to church all the time. And at some point, I went home back to Jersey though I don’t remember saying goodbye.

Jackson, MS with Ella Mae

I can probably count on one hand how many summers my brothers and I didn’t spend in Jackson when we were kids. That drive from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Jackson became second nature. I knew it by heart—every stretch of interstate, every stop we’d make along the way. But it was always the Capitol Street exit that brought us back to life, no matter how long we’d been asleep in the van. The excitement would hit us all at once, like Christmas morning. And really, for us, it was Christmas in July.

Back then, you could still drive right through Jackson State’s campus, and from there it was just a few minutes to our grandmother’s house. We called it the “green house” because of the mint green paint, and that name stuck like everything else from those summers. The second we pulled up, we’d race up the front steps, barely giving her time to open the door before we were in her arms. She gave the best hugs—warm, full, and safe. I can still feel them.

Grandma Ella Mae at a backyard bbq.

Though my days were often filled with the kind of mischief boys dream of—racing go-karts, building forts, riding bikes until sunset—the memories that have stayed with me the most weren’t the loud, wild ones. They were the quiet, slow ones. Sitting with Ella Mae on the porch steps with a bowl in my lap, snapping beans or shelling purple hull peas. Walking through her huge garden, picking vegetables while she taught me what was what. Watching her pickle jars of okra and cucumbers like it was second nature. Eating grapes off the vine, always half-scared a snake was going to pop out at me. And the smells—God, the smells. Buttery cornbread, sweet pies, cakes fresh out of the oven. She was the best baker I’ve ever known, and she made me feel like I was part of the magic, letting me stir the batter or pour it into the pan like I was really helping.

Saying goodbye was never easy. It never is when a place feels like home. But even as we pulled away, I always knew—we’d be back soon.

Wonderful Thinking

When does staying well-informed cross the line into information overload and overwhelm? As leaders working in the diversity, equity and inclusion space, the current social and political climate definitely has us testing that balance. 

KH: Like many friends, our texts and DMs are random and never ending. 😁

BG: I am certain that we have more proverbial costume changes in one conversation than Beyonce will have during the Cowboy Carter tour! But much like a tour all the changes are still connected by a theme.  

KH: We’ve got jokes, personal updates, and of course memes. But we also keep each other informed on what’s happening in social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion. And there’s a lot happening these days. 

BG: I vacillate between hope and exhaustion frequently. I’m also aware that the point of all the chaos is to cause overwhelm. Septima Poinsette Clark once said, “I have great belief in the fact that whenever there is chaos, it creates wonderful thinking. I consider chaos a gift.” I believe that’s what we’re doing in our DMs — a lot of wonderful thinking. 

KH: “Wonderful thinking.” I love that!! It speaks to the space we’re creating for each other. And to think, we don’t send half of what we could! With the barrage of legislative actions related to diversity, equity and inclusion, it can be easy to spiral in the name of staying well informed. Even when you have positive developments, like the Federal judge blocking exec orders last week. How do you know when you crossed the line into information overwhelm?  If I get to 2-3 scrolls and haven’t laughed — that’s my sign! 

Educator and activist Septima Clark

BG: Yes! My barometer is joy. If I don’t have a smile on my face and my heart full after a few scrolls, I go find the beautiful toddler in brown fringe cowgirl boots popping a fan to Frank Foster’s song, “Boots on the Ground.” Also, she’s a much better dancer than me and I clearly need to level up before Spring. I can’t look bad doing this dance, lol!

KH: How do you find a better balance? 

BG: With so much change, it makes sense that we’re trying to gain a sense of control by staying informed. But I think we have to set boundaries and ask ourselves ‘Is this information actionable?’ Social media algorithms can trap us and decide what we see. We have to be picky and find a few trusted news sources, limit the amount we consume and stick with the important parts. National Public Radio (NPR) is my go-to source. I listen on the way to work and on the way home. I’ll catch some local news in the evening to catch community and legislative happenings. And everything else I consume is on the lighter side.

KH: Agreed on being selective in terms of news consumption. I will also mute a group chat in a minute. Hide and delete folks on social. And sometimes simply tell people that I don’t want to be included in certain conversations. I have to check myself, too. Like you, I’m biased toward positive action, so I try to share content that reflects that. If I’m reading or watching and feel more despair than motivation — it’s time to do something different. 

BG: It’s really about finding ways to respond effectively to changes that affect our lives and those around us without being part of the noise. I read this quote by author Caroline J. Sumlin recently, “Joy and rest must be at the foundation of your activism. It is not sustainable to run on anger.”

KH: And let’s be clear; we’re not delusional or engaging in toxic positivity. What we’re facing as a nation, particularly as part of marginalized communities, is an attempt to undo decades of progress toward a more just society. I recently sent you an article about banning books — in this case a library removing from its shelves books that mention the civil rights movement. Can you imagine what’s left on those shelves? It’s scary and maddening. 

At the same time, I’m seeing more people post reminders that we are not powerless. There are things we can do to fight back, drive positive change, and take care of ourselves. 1) More intentional spending with companies whose practices align with your values. For me that’s Black, small and local businesses.  2) Buy, borrow, read and recommend banned and challenged books. 3) Support mutual aid efforts — and make use of them if you need help. Being part of a supportive community is so important right now. What would you include on that list?

The banned book display at Watchung Booksellers, an independent bookstore in Montclair, NJ

BG: I absolutely agree with intentional spending — or not spending. I’d add lifting locally — attend city council meetings, school board meetings, community events. This is where decisions are made and you can lend your voice to positive change. I’d add volunteering for the causes that align with your values or interests. Whether it’s schools, parks, civic organizations or community centers and nonprofits. There are plenty of ways to give back and be creative doing it. I saw a video of a music teacher that was volunteering to teach kids spirituals from the Black church. What a way to connect with the community and combat the suppression of information in a nontraditional way! I believe what Kerry Washington said during the NAACP Awards. We’re being called to greatness.

KH: If DEI is the top topic in our DMs, second has to be Black history. You and I always talk about how we celebrate all year; Black History Month is just our anniversary. What’s been your favorite Black history share so far? Mine is the post about Whitney recording “I’m Your Baby Tonight” in one take because she wanted to go to the mall! I read LA Reid told that story in his book Sing to Me. I also love the history Imani Barbarin shared about Audre Lorde’s quote and why rest and self-care are revolutionary. 

BG: There have been two for me: encouraging people to watch The Six Triple Eight. Black girls are magic! I was beaming that entire movie! It’s our tradition of resistance that continues to inspire me. Did I mention these women built a hair salon in a dilapidated church during a war? The second would be Sheila E. sharing the story of playing bottles filled with water on Michael Jackson’s song, “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.” As soon as I saw this clip, I listened to the song. If you didn’t know, now you know! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaMhspMpzfo

The six triple eight battalion

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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.