Black History Month
February is Black History Month. Each year the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) chooses a theme for the month, and in 2023, it is “Resistance.”
One way to explore this theme of resistance is to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C. While a trip to the nation’s capital may not be possible, their website provides the next best thing to an in person visit.
Curators have organized their exhibits for the month around the ways that African Americans practice resistance: A Tradition of Activism; Foundations of Faith; The Value of Education; The Black Press; and Leaning into Black Joy. According to the curators, “Black resistance not only encompasses rebellions, protests, and uprisings — but also the beauty, love, and pride of joyous everyday living. Black joy lives in those who dare to love themselves, their families and their communities. Black joy is the smiles and laughter of children, the courtships, love, marriage rituals, fellowships, foodways and family pride.”
Within this exhibit, there is the series, “You Should Know” with topics such as “Black Actresses Who Refused to Be Typecast”; “Traveling Through Jim Crow America;” and “African American Chefs You Should Know.” Along with text, each section is illustrated with photos of objects from the museum’s collection. For example, in “Traveling Through Jim Crow America,” a copy of the Negro Motorist Green Book is displayed. “This was a guidebook for African American travelers that provided a list of hotels, boarding houses, taverns, restaurants, service stations, and other establishments throughout the country that served African American patrons. The information included in the Green Book helped increase their safety and treatment.”
The section, Leaning into Black Joy, is a moving testimony to the resilience of African American people. From the website, “When people live in a world that devalues them because they are black or brown as well as dismisses their contributions to the larger society, Black Joy is and has been an effective tool that has allowed individuals and groups to shift the impact of negative narratives and events in their favor.” This section also includes a video of a conversation between All Things Considered weekend host, Michel Martin and podcast host Tracey Lewis-Giggetts. Their conversation is heartfelt and eloquent.
While there are many in person special events at the museum, there are others that are online only. There’s a series for children, NMAAHC Kids Learning Together that includes Celebrating Encanto’s Antonio; Celebrating Frozone! Celebrating Princess Tiana! and Celebrating Doc McStuffins! Another online event is A Space for Us All. On Friday February 10, 2023, the NMAAHC and NASA will host middle and high school students to join them virtually for an educational experience where they will examine and build on the legacy of achievement, connection, and knowledge of African Americans at NASA. This program will be available on the website at a later date.
Truly, “Black History Month is a time to celebrate the fullness of African American history and culture, but that cannot be contained in one month alone.”