Lifestyle
5 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month 2021
Black History Month has been a memorable time for the Black community since the 1970s. It’s a time to reflect on all the events that have unfolded, both historically and recently, and commemorate everything they have endured and achieved. When you think about how to celebrate Black History Month, challenge yourself to remember its history and discover ways to show your support not only in February but throughout the year.
Ways to Observe Black History Month
1. Support a Black-owned business
Shopping a Black business is a way to let them know you’re making a conscious decision to show your support. There are plenty of Black-owned stores that have partnered with Rakuten to offer Cash Back. Here are some of our favorites:
- Briogeo – Hair care products
- Pat McGrath Labs – Makeup
- Scotch Porter – Men’s grooming line
- Carol’s Daughter – Natural hair care products
- TPH by Taraji – Scalp and hair care products
- Fresh Pawz – Dog clothing and accessories
2. Donate to a Black organization
Money speaks, and one of the best ways to make a meaningful impact is by sharing your dollars with memorial funds, bailout funds, frontline support, focused organizations, legal defensive funds and more. Learn about more ways you can help, and check out some of our favorite organizations:
- NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund: America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice, seeking structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans.
- Center for Policing Equity: CPE uses COMPstat data to work directly with police in 25 cities nationwide to measure behaviors and revise policies.
- Equal Justice Initiative: EJI provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted of crimes, including poor prisoners without effective representation and those who may have been denied a fair trial.
3. Educate yourself on Black history and culture
Films, documentaries, books, museums, recipes, music, podcasts and more are all around you. Take the time to sit down and spend some quality minutes learning about Black history, its struggles and its triumphs, and include your kids in the conversation. Check out some of our favorite books:
Books:
- List of Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: This award is given to extraordinary Black authors and illustrators of children and young adult books that show an appreciation for African American culture.
- They Were Her Property by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers
- Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Umoja Noble
- How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
Movies:
- CNN and Sesame Street town hall on racism
- 13th (Netflix)
- Fruitvale Station (Amazon Prime, Netflix)
- If Beale Street Could Talk (Hulu)
- When They See Us (Netflix)
- The Hate U Give (Hulu)
4. Spend time with someone in the Black community
This can come in the form of listening to the stories of a Black elder, and if you’re willing and able to commit, one of the most meaningful things you can do is make the right impact on someone’s life. Look into becoming a mentor to a Black child in your community – you never know how much you can learn.
5. Register to vote
Voting is a privilege and one that members of the Black community have not always had. Make your voice heard and do your part by registering to vote, and stay informed by learning about laws, bills and more that will make an impact.
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