Black History Month is a powerful occasion to recognise, learn from, and reflect on Black stories, histories, and legacies.

While Black history should be championed for more than just one month, here’s how were celebrating the too-often unheralded accomplishments of Black people within the structure of the nation's cultural fabric.

Supporting black owned businesses.

Many Black-owned businesses still face structural racism, which poses a unique threat to their longevity and ability to serve their communities’ needs. Becoming a customer — specifically during this month when these companies have a lot more visibility — is a great way to celebrate.

Brining art and history together w / Inspiring Futures.

Through a Sip & Paint workshop, we celebrate Black History Month by exploring and discussing themes of Home, Black(ness) in the UK and Migration and what that means to our feelings of belonging and identity.

Inspiring futures is a community based project by us to support and celebrate those who have done it or are doing it already.have done it before us and set an example for there to follow.

Find out more here.

Watching films or TV shows by Black creators.

Netflix’s Black Lives Matter category highlights films and TV shows centered around the “Black experience in America,” including Ava DuVernay’s “When They See Us,” a drama about a real-life group of Black teens falsely accused of a vicious attack; “Loving,” a film about an interracial couple whose marriage became the basis of a landmark Supreme Court case; and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” starring Viola Davis as the groundbreaking Southern blues singer.

Watching Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History.

Kevin Hart highlights the fascinating contributions of Black history’s unsung heroes in this entertaining—and educational—comedy special.

Listening & learning about, and share music created by Black artists.

Spotify’s “Black History is Now” campaign celebrates the global impact of Black music artists. Listen to songs by classic performers like Nina Simone and Ray Charles as well as tracks from current recording stars like H.E.R., Anderson .Paakand Andra Day.

Discussing implicit bias, systemic racism, and social injustice.

An implicit bias is an unconscious association, belief, or attitude toward any social group. Due to implicit biases, people may often attribute certain qualities or characteristics to all members of a particular group, a phenomenon known as stereotyping.

While people might like to believe that they are not susceptible to these biases and stereotypes, the reality is that everyone engages in them whether they like it or not. Taking the time to talk about these biases and other systematic issues such as racism and social injustice is a great opportunity to possibly adopt new attitudes, even on the unconscious level.

This process is not necessarily quick or easy, but being aware of the existence of these biases is a good place to start in helping others make a positive change.

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