10 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate Black Americans and understand Black History.

Since the 1970s, February has been recognized as Black History Month in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. The event originated with Carter G Woodson, a historian, who created an organization dedicated to the achievements of Black individuals. 

Here are ten ways to celebrate black history month from home:

1. 1. Support Black-owned local businesses and restaurants: Download the app EatOkra to find local Black-owned restaurants. To find Black-owned businesses in your area you can use the search engine byblack.us. 
   2. Attend a Black History event: Eventbrite has a great list of virtual events taking place during the month of February. To find local events in your area, check out your local library. 
   3. Take a virtual museum tour: The Smithsonian is hosting virtual events and tours in honor of Black history month. To view the event list and to register, visit the NMAAHC website. 
   4. Read a book by a Black author: Educate your children about Black History by reading them one of these 19 top Black children’s books. For adults, CNN created a list of  20 must-read books to read during Black History Month.  
   5. Cook a soul food-inspired dish at home: Check out these 22 recipes from Black chefs to celebrate Black culture.
   6. Watch a movie or documentary about Black History: This list features 10 family-friendly movies to check out.
   7. Educate yourself about important Black figures throughout history: Read a biography, or check out a list of influential Black people like the Undefeated’s list of 44 influential Black Americans.
   8. Listen to music by Black artists both from the past and the present: Take a tour through music history. Start with Billie Holiday and James Brown and make your way to artists like Lizzo and HER. Check out Spotify’s Black History is Now hub for curated playlists from Black artists in different genres.
   9. Donate to a non-profit that supports the Black community: The HuffPost compiled a list of 28 non-profits to check out. 
   10. Follow Black Influencers in recovery: You can find them on Instagram at the following links. 

• • • Kristin Walker from Sober Brown Girls 
    • Chrissie Rivers from Black Recovery Matters
    • Africa Brooke
    • Mishal Moore
    • Sad Girls Club
    • Served Up Sober
    • Chris Marshall from Sans Bar