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February is Black History Month. In a country that struggles to acknowledge the honest truth of the treatment, challenges, and divisive systems that intentionally work against Black people, we think Black History Month is a time for Black people to celebrate joy and tell the true story of our people. Within the scope of the work we do, it is a time to look at the foundational work of those who came before us and understand how we carry the work forward today. Black History is all around us. We celebrate it daily. We are called to create a better future.
“If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”
John Lewis

Black History Month Events

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Please enjoy this Black History Month selection put together by the good folks at the Center for Popular Democracy:

Your vote can change a black life....

  • by building Black political power that can transform the systems we currently have now.
  • by electing Congressmembers that will fight for Black futures.
  • at the local level and help fix the problems you see in your streets and schools.
  • by shifting political power to candidates that ensure all have their needs met. So Black people can find their voice.
  • by electing a candidate that will ensure policies like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act end voting discrimination and ensure Black voters are equally represented.

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Municipal Primary & Special Election Runoff Deadline to Register Online is March 4 by 4:30 PM
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National Black Business Month

  • Black buying power was $1.4 trillion in 2019, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth. That’s higher than the gross domestic product of Mexico. It’s projected to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2024.
  • Black-owned businesses have often faced greater challenges in establishing and growing their businesses, beginning with securing bank loans, capital and finding investors. Only 4.3% of the United States' 22.2 million business owners are black, according to a February 2020 Brookings Institute report.
  • According to theFederal Reserve, Black-owned businesses are less likely to be approved for bank loans, with an approval rate of 46.5 per cent compared to 75.3 per cent for white-owned businesses.
  • According to American Express’ 2018 State of Women-Owned Business Report, the number of firms owned by Black women grew 164% from 2007 to 2018, nearly three times above the average rate.
  • According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), as many as 41% of Black small businesses were forced to close permanently due to COVID-19 compared to just 17% of white-owned businesses.
  • The face of female entrepreneurship overall is becoming a lot less white. Black women represent 42% of new women-owned businesses—three times their share of the female population—and 36% of all Black-owned employer businesses.