Black History Month is an opportunity for Black families to honor and celebrate their rich heritage, history, and culture. While national events and media tributes play a role, celebrating within your own hometown can create a meaningful and lasting impact for your family and community. Here are ten creative and interactive ways Black families can celebrate Black History Month.
1. Organize a Family Storytelling Night
Gather multiple generations to share family history, personal stories, and experiences of resilience and triumph. Encourage elders to pass down wisdom and narratives that help children connect with their ancestry. Younger children can participate by creating drawings based on the stories they hear.
2. Visit Black-Owned Businesses and Restaurants
Make it a family goal to support Black-owned businesses throughout February. Take children along to meet business owners and learn about entrepreneurship within the Black community. Create a fun “passport” challenge where they collect stamps from each Black-owned business they visit.
3. Create a Black History Scavenger Hunt
Design a scavenger hunt featuring historical Black landmarks, street names, or murals in your town. Have kids and teens research these locations beforehand and discuss their significance. Reward participants with a fun prize at the end of the hunt.
4. Attend Local Black History Month Events
Many cities host parades, art exhibits, spoken word performances, and lectures during February. Engage with these events as a family, and encourage children to participate through writing essays, performing poetry, or displaying artwork that reflects Black history.
5. Cook Traditional African and African American Dishes
Turn a regular family dinner into a culinary celebration by cooking dishes from different regions of Africa, the Caribbean, and the American South. Teach children the origins of traditional meals and involve them in the cooking process.
6. Start a Family Book Club Featuring Black Authors
Choose books written by Black authors that align with the ages of your family members. Host weekly discussions about the themes, lessons, and cultural significance. Consider including picture books for younger children and biographies for teens.
7. Volunteer or Support a Black-Led Nonprofit
Give back to the community by volunteering at a local, Black-led nonprofit or organizing a donation drive for organizations that support Black youth, education, or families in need. This helps instill a sense of service and responsibility in children.
8. Host a Black History Movie Night
Pick a selection of family-friendly films that highlight Black history, such as Hidden Figures, The Princess and the Frog, or Akeelah and the Bee. For older children, consider documentaries like 13th, The Great Debaters, or Eyes on the Prize, followed by a discussion.
9. Create a Family Time Capsule
Encourage each family member to contribute something meaningful, such as a letter about their heritage, an artwork, or a significant newspaper clipping. Bury or store the time capsule to be opened in future years.
10. Design a Black History Art Project
Let creativity flow by painting murals, making collages, or crafting vision boards inspired by Black historical figures and movements. Display the artwork in your home or donate pieces to local schools or libraries.
By incorporating these creative and interactive activities, Black families can make Black History Month an enriching and memorable time, ensuring that cultural pride and awareness thrive within the next generation.
