Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada and more recently has been observed in Ireland, and the United Kingdom. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, while in Ireland, and the United Kingdom it is observed in October.
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Black History Month Events at the Y
All Y Branches: #wewearblack
Join us as we celebrate Black History Month by wearing black each Friday in February.
- We wear black to honor the struggle of those who came before us.
- We wear black to bring awareness to the institutional and systemic racism and oppression of black and brown people in the United States and around the world.
- We wear black in unity of those who are working daily to fight injustice, prejudice and inequity.
- We wear black to do our part to ensure that future generations have great opportunity and access to thrive.
Walnut Street YMCA
A Celebration of African Culture
February 4, 2023
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Bring the whole family and come celebrate African Culture at the Walnut Street YMCA! Partnering with New Castle County Park and Recreation, we will be celebrating Black History Month with demonstrations, African Food tasting, performances, craft & activities and vendors.
Bear-Glasgow Family YMCA
Let’s Talk About Race Workshop
February 3, 2023
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Registration Required: YMCA of Delaware: Let’s Talk About Race Workshop B (signupgenius.com)
Race is hard to discuss. Some people whisper about it. Some people are afraid to talk about it – what if I make a mistake or say something wrong? If we do not talk about it, we are going to keep getting it wrong. This workshop leads participants through a guided discussion about race in America. Asking questions – Why is it so uncomfortable to talk about race? What is your accountability in discussions of race? How do you feel about systematic racism and privilege? The workshop strives to create an open, honest, and transparent conversation about race.
Celebration EXPO
February 20, 2023
1-4 p.m.
Open to Community: In Partnership with Women with a vision Women With A Vision (wearewomenwithavision.com)
This exciting event will feature a variety of vendors selling unique and high-quality products and services. There will also be delicious food, music, and art on display. Don’t miss out on the hip hop dance presentation and our special guest speakers that will cover the history of Hip Hop, mental health and nutrition. Come support and uplift small businesses in our community and celebrate the rich culture and history of the Black community.
Nic Snow Band
February 24, 2023
12:30 – 3 p.m.
Band Performance and Jamaican Cuisine HOME | NICSNOWEPK (nicsnowmusic.com)
Join us for an afternoon of celebration with Nic Snow Band and D&H Jamaican Cuisine! Nic Snow is a product of Delaware’s most prestigious music institutions – Christina Cultural Arts Center and Cab Calloway School of the Arts. Nic electrifies audiences with emotional performances, filling every release with his rich storytelling and soulful melodies. Light lunch will be provided by D&H Jamaican Cuisine. D and H Jamaican Restaurant in Newark, Delaware
Central YMCA
Let’s Talk About Race Workshop
February 28, 2023
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Registration Required: YMCA of Delaware: Let’s Talk About Race Workshop C (signupgenius.com)
Race is hard to discuss. Some people whisper about it. Some people are afraid to talk about it – what if I make a mistake or say something wrong? If we do not talk about it, we are going to keep getting it wrong. This workshop leads participants through a guided discussion about race in America. Asking questions – Why is it so uncomfortable to talk about race? What is your accountability in discussions of race? How do you feel about systematic racism and privilege? The workshop strives to create an open, honest, and transparent conversation about race.
Black History Month 2023 Theme
Since 1976, every American president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme. The Black History Month 2023 theme, “Black Resistance,” explores how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings,” since the nation’s earliest days.
Join us all month as we honor and celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Black people who have guided our country’s growth and progress.
The story of Black History Month begins in 1915, half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.
That September, the Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent.
Known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The event inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs and host performances and lectures.
Family Table Talk
Look over this list of 120 Inspiring Quotes for Black History Month and chose a different quote each day to discuss over dinner talk about the person who said the quote and what they are known for. Ask your family questions like…
- What does this quote mean to you?
- Give a “real-life” example of what this quote is about.
- What do you think prompted the speaker to say this
- Is there something you can learn from this quote about how you should live your life?