Honoring Black History Month

To say that the last few months have been historical is an understatement. They will be forever remembered in American history and particularly for Black Americans. We’ve seen our first ever elected Black woman as Vice President, Kamala Harris and our first ever elected Black senator Rev. Raphael Warnock who is also the first Black Democrat to represent a southern state.

But, we have also seen the disproportionate effect of Black Americans experiencing death, job loss, continued police brutality and race-fueled attacks. As Black history month kicks off, there won’t be opportunities to collectively gather in one space but there are many ways to do this virtually, personally and within your own social circles. This month, think about the ways that you can honor, respect and support Black lives not just during this month but every day.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Read about Black History Month: There are many great resources on the internet but consider filtering your search to read specifically from the point of view of a Black person
• Pick a book about racism, discrimination and other systems of oppression. Much of these issues stem from anti-Blackness culture.
• Engage in respectful dialogue with active listening about the experiences of Black people and ask questions.
• As you read articles, statistics and headlines, question everything including who is writing that piece from that perspective.
• Ask yourself how you can support and respect Black communities more than you are doing right now

Get involved at Depaul by learning more about the Black Cultural Center here.

Also, Sankofa the Black Student Formation Program will be highlighting different aspects of the Black community / Black culture with various staff/faculty and organizations. Follow this campaign with #BlackisSankofa to learn more. You can find them on social media on Instagram @depaulsankofa, facebook.com/sankofadepaul and Twitter @sankofadpu.