Celebrated each February, Black History Month is a time to recognize the contributions of the Black community and honor the struggle for equality, visibility, and agency in a country that has historically marginalized them.

According to History.com, Black History Month was first conceptualized as “Negro History Week” by Carter G. Woodson and celebrated in the second week of February, 1926. (This date was selected to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.) The holiday week was celebrated annually in many places nationwide for decades, and during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Black History Month began being celebrated on college campuses around the country.

The month-long holiday was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976, and February has been designated Black History Month by the president in office every year since. Each year brings with it a different theme, and the 2024 theme is African Americans and the Arts. Previous themes have included Black Health and Wellness and African Americans in Times of War.

Recommended Watching and Reading for Black History Month

This list will grow as community members contribute. Send recommendations to hello@burlington.buzz.

13th is Ava DuVernay’s documentary about the criminalization of Black Americans amid the prison expansion in the United States. (Netflix)

Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson takes a look at how the United States system of segregation affects society today.

Where to Go In-Person and Online to Learn More About Black History in the United States

Here are just a few places to visit; feel free to add your recommendations:

• The Museum of the National Center of Afro American Artists in Roxbury
• The Museum of African American History in Boston and Nantucket
• The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. also has a wealth of digital resources.
• The National Archives also has many primary sources that can support our understanding of Black history.
• StoryCorps’ Stories to Celebrate Black History Month

Activities for Adults and Children to Learn More About Black History

Want to help your children understand more about Black History, or want to learn more yourself? At-home activities and virtual or in-person events can help support everyone’s learning. Check out this list from Care.com.

Other learning opportunities (as age appropriate):

• Reading books and poetry collections written by Black Americans
• Listening to stories or watching real-life videos/films
• Having conversations about the past and present

Local Black History Month Happenings

Below are just a few events happening somewhat locally to celebrate Black History Month in 2024. Let us know if you have one you’d like to add!

• February 2 - The Black is Back Black History Month celebration through song at Club Café in Boston

• February 3 - Lincoln Public School Step Team performs at Acton Discovery Museum

• February 10-11 - Black History Month Celebration Weekend at the Museum of Science, featuring special speakers and presentations, family activities, and performance and community groups from the Boston area:

  • A Beautiful Resistance: Family Edition

  • Cliff Notez

  • OOMPA

  • Dutch ReBelle

  • OrigiNation

  Also featuring a special exhibit, ReRooted: What’s Hair Got to Do with It?

• February 10 - Black Women in Science: The Legacy of Annie Malone at Acton Discovery Museum. From the ADM website: Malone was “a groundbreaking entrepreneur who used her passion for chemistry, and hair, to become a pioneer in the Black beauty and cosmetics industry.”

• February 17 - Paint Workshop at Lynn Arts

• February 22 - Len Cabral - Stories of Hope and Joy at John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

• February 27 - Special Collections Open House at the Boston Public Library (Copley Square)

How do you mark Black History Month? Do you have any book, film, or other media recommendations to help your neighbors understand more about this important holiday? Share your stories with us by emailing hello@burlington.buzz, and your story could be added to this feature!

What are you celebrating or observing? Let us know at hello@burlington.buzz!