The 2023 Black History Month Theme is...
I wrote about this last year, but every Black History Month since 1928 has a theme set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) - the group group founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson to continue the work of Black History Month.
2023's theme is Black Resistance.
Historically and today in the 21st century, Black people have worked the political angle to seek their rightful space in the country. Where race is concerned, legislative or judicial action to deal with controversial issues has often come late. The historic Executive Orders 8802 and 9346 were responses to A. Phillip Randolph and the all-Black March on Washington Movement’s threat to lead a 50,000-strong Black worker’s march into Washington, D.C. And all three of the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act were concessions to the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Every advance, improvement in our quality of life and access to the levers of power to determine our destiny has been achieved through struggle. John Lewis advised, “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
Read more about the Black Resistance over the years here.
P.S. Beyonce announced her Ressanisance World Tour yesterday. Some people are pretty excited about it (ahem, me).
I don't live by Beyonce but I appreciate a master artist when I see one. 🐝