It’s the most beautiful time of the year (subjectively speaking from a black queer women). For me personally, BHM (black history month) is a month I’m always looking forward to. It’s the time to celebrate and educate about everything black. This is finally the month where applications fix their algorithms to show the creativity, talent and hard-work that black creators do all the time more frequently. While I am sad we still have to struggle for exposure, this month is about us making power moves as a collective!
Black History and Language
Don’t let this header fool you, I’m not going to be talking about AAVE (not specifically anyway). I’m going to be talking about books. Who would have guessed that coming from a book related website, original I know!
Seriously though, BHM is the perfect time to connect to your roots by re-reading some of your favorite and timeless writers like Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes and Octavia Blake. It’s also the perfect time to branch out and find new black creatives to support and build up. Remember that all the greats I listed above were once waiting for an opportunity! A way to pay homage to them is to continue to support your local black writers, poets, short story creators, script writers, etc! What better way to celebrate than by supporting voices that you can related to and that understand the collective black experience!
As a fellow black writer attempting to make her mark in the industry, it’s important to me to highlight smaller creators! Just because someone isn’t well known doesn’t mean their work isn’t anything short of amazing. If you’d like to keep up with more of my writing, please check out my Ko-Fi and possibly consider donating. I’m planning to write, edit and submit at least three short stories to journals, magazines and websites so wish me luck! Whether accepted or rejected my short stories will be for sale on my Ko-Fi as well! Don’t be anti-black, support my art (just kidding)! If you’d like recommendations for other writers please check out my latest Instagram post linked in the picture above. Now that I’m done with my shameless plug, it’s time to keep this article going.
Black History and Art
I haven’t had the opportunity to talk about my love of all the arts in as much detail as I do now. So, hear me when I say, I LOVE me a black painter, illustrator, designer, you name it. If they like it, I love it.
While I primarily write, I do paint (rarely) and can truly appreciate the time, effort, dedication and skill it takes to have a job like that. From one artist to another, you should also support the drawing arts! Art for the black community was how our ancestors channeled their grief, happiness and desires! They’ve been undervalued and underrepresented. Much like with their writing contemporaries, the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat (neo-expressionism), Augusta Savage (sculptor), and Alma Thomas (colorist) paved the way for up and comers today! If you’re looking for some new talent, please be sure to check out my cousin-in-law’s work (as shown in the picture above) @Aseselahofficial in case you missed it earlier!
To Keep It Simple
To me Black History Month is a time to celebrate and shout out the achievements of everyone in your community. It’s the perfect time to uplift, encourage and support one another. Don’t forget to shop black owned businesses and buy black made products! If you have any black creators you love, please leave them down below in the comments. I’d love to check them out.
Happy Black History Month everyone!
