Written by: Däsha Myers

           In 1976, Black History Month was officially recognized as a national celebration. Black History Month pays tribute to generations of African Americans and their contributions to the United States while fighting and combating a system of oppression; starting from Feb 1 to March 1. This holiday has received official recognition from the U.S. and Canada, but has more recently been observed in Ireland and the UK. 

Originally during the summer of 1915, Carter G. Woodson strived to find a time to celebrate and commemorate Black History and promote education regarding this subject. He saw and wanted this celebration as a week-long tradition during some time of the month, and eventually dedicated the second week of February to what was then called Negro History Week. This idea continued to grow, and by the late 60s, it changed to Black History Month. February was chosen as the time of celebration because of the colliding birthdays of Abraham Lincoln who signed the Emancipation Proclamation, a proclamation that liberated slaves throughout the United State; and Fredrick Douglass, who was a former slave and a vital leader in the abolitionist movement.

There are a couple of ways people contribute to this celebration; by supporting black-owned businesses, donating to charities that support and fight against racism, and purchasing and reading books by black authors. Supporting black-owned businesses addresses a plethora of issues, one of the issues being a lack of black-owned businesses in the first place. These companies are more likely to hire more black individuals, bringing more community and opportunity to everyone. This is important because black entrepreneurs usually start with less money than white entrepreneurs, and also experience battles against low credit scores, societal expectations, and racial bias. By supporting a plethora of these black-owned businesses, these businesses can continue to thrive and bring society a more diverse outlook, and give them the recognition that they work hard for. 

One of the many notable brands is Absolutely Everything Curly, owned by Gaby Longsworth. She aims to educate others on how to take care of and maintain textured hair, and what to look for in hair products in terms of ingredients. The company additionally offers guides on hair products for children and babies; and other guides relating to hair oil, frizz fighters, gels, and butters.

Pierre Performance is owned by Jamal Pierre, who himself has struggled with acne and hyperpigmentation. Pierre Performance aims to aid others, especially men, with skincare that combats hyperpigmentation and signs of aging while spreading the message that skincare and self-care for men are just as important. Designed with every skin type in mind, Pierre Performance aids all men of ages, sizes, and backgrounds while delivering the skin with important ingredients that rejuvenate the skin.

One last important black-owned business is the beauty brand Ami Colé, where the formulas are specialized in enhancing melanin-rich skin with high-quality makeup. Beauty brands like Ami Colé remain vital to black people, especially black women, because more than half of the beauty brands today exclude darkened skin formulas, meaning their shade range lacks anything much darker. Due to this exclusion, black women often feel like more of an afterthought to these brands, or generally unimportant. Over the past couple of years, however, many brands have started including darker shade options. Additionally, black-owned beauty brands have gained much more traction such as Fenty Beauty, which Rihanna launched in 2017. Fenty Beauty continues to heavily be praised for its inclusivity because of its 50 different concealer shade options, landing itself the brand with one of the widest ranges of foundation shades. By supporting, purchasing, or educating others on these businesses, one can actively participate in Black History Month.

From basic inclusivity in society, Black History Month helps and reminds everyone of the importance of black contribution throughout the world, and to recognize those who fought for equality, equity, and freedom.

Helpful resources

Research guides: Black history month: A Commemorative Observances Legal Research Guide: History and overview. History and Overview - Black History Month: A Commemorative Observances Legal Research Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress. (n.d.). Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://guides.loc.gov/black-history-month-legal-resources/history-and-overview#:~:text=National%20Black%20History%20Month%20has,Life%20and%20History%20(ASALH). 

Godio, M., Malin, Z., & Rabinowitz, H. (2021, February 27). 150+ Black-owned businesses to support in 2023 and beyond. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/black-owned-business-guide-ncna1258948

“Beneficial State Bank.” Beneficial State Bank, https://www.beneficialstatebank.com/better-banking-blog/business-banking/why-you-should-support-black-owned-businesses. Accessed 3 Mar. 2023.