This Black History Month, immerse yourself in stories that highlight Black resilience, history, and culture through powerful books, podcasts, and museums. Let this be a time of learning, reflection, and deeper engagement with the past to shape a more just future.
LISTEN: 40 Acres and a Lie
This podcast, from Reveal and the Center for Public Integrity, came out in 2024 and tells the stories of some of the more than 1,200 formerly enslaved people — and, ultimately, all of their descendants — who received property from the U.S. government as compensation for the many harms suffered, including stolen wages. The government quickly changed its mind and seized the property back to return it to enslavers. Today, that land is worth tens of millions of dollars that should be in the hands of Black families. Reparations could be a tool for justice.
READ: The Quaking of America: An Embodied Guide to Navigating Our Nation’s Upheaval and Racial Reckoning
Resmaa Menakem reminds us that the tremors of history aren’t just in the past, they ripple through our present. Menakem challenges us to see America as it is, not just as we wish it to be, and that’s an uncomfortable reckoning. This month isn’t just about celebration; it’s about reflection, about asking ourselves what we’re doing to honor the struggles and triumphs of those who came before us. Black history isn’t distant—it’s alive, shaping the ground we walk on. The question is: are we willing to feel the quake and respond?
EXPLORE: Florida Virtual Civil Rights Museum
There’s something about museums that has the powerful ability to transform your mind in time and space. Museums are such a powerful way of exploring history and culturally significant movements while also putting into context and perspective the beauty and struggle of the present moment. They’re cost effective and easily accessible. Take some time to visit a local Black history museum in your area or a Black history exhibit at your favorite museum. If nothing comes to mind, check out Florida’s free virtual civil rights museum. It’s an immersive, interactive way to see history through the lens of the Black pioneers who’ve shaped our society in countless ways… and you don’t even have to leave home to experience it.
