Black History Month (BHM) is here, offering once again countless ways to acknowledge this annual celebration whether you are focusing on the past, present or the future. Some celebrate, participate, others contribute or honor it.
For our organization, we plan to focus on how BHM specifically relates to the Black charitable and philanthropy sector today.
First, let us examine the word “history” and its meaning.
According to Google, the definition of “history” is the study of change over time, and it covers all aspects of human society: Political, social, economic, scientific, technological, medical, cultural, intellectual, religious and military developments.
Historians write, as accurately as possible, stories of past people, places, and events in order to discover, study, and interpret new findings. This offers opportunities to learn from past mistakes and successes.
Studying history allows us to observe and understand how people and societies behaved. For example, we are able to evaluate civil unrest or war, even when a nation is at peace, by looking back at previous events. History provides us with the data that was used to create laws, or theories about various aspects of society.
During Black History Month, we tend to remember the past people, events or places that have significantly affected and altered our past and present. A light is often shed on issues pertaining to civil rights, discrimination, inclusion or pioneers that have defied the odds.
From Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Harriett Tubman, Ella Baker in the USA to Donald Willard Moore and Viola Desmond in Canada and Queen Nzinga and Nelson Mandela in Africa, Marcus Garvey in the Caribbean, BHM remembers the people who significantly changed the course of history. They are often remembered because of their contribution to the cause and many accomplishments.
What do most of them have in common? Their legacy lives on through several organizations.
The Slavery Abolition movement, the Civil Right Movement, Segregation and the Anti-Apartheid have all spawned the creation of several organizations. Here are some of the most recognized today:
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) – W.E.B. Du Bois
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) – Martin Luther King Jr
- The Center for Nonviolent Social Change – Coretta Scott King
- Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) – Ella Baker
- Black Panther Party (BPP) – Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale
- Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Elders – Nelson Mandela
- Negro Citizenship Association – Donald Willard Moore
- Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) – Marcus Garvey
These organizations have all uniquely, positively, shaped the lives of Black people worldwide while inspiring countless others to continue their legacy and take on their mission.
Why is history important and how can it benefit our future? The answer is simple: history is informing the future that we are investing in now.
Which brings us to the relationship between Black History Month and Black organizations.
Today’s Black non-profit sector continues to make a positive impact at the local level, more so than at a national level. Nonetheless, this sector is having an impact by changing the narrative and delivering outcomes for several communities by providing help or bridging the gap.
Their goals have also changed and adapted to the times, several organizations are established to provide opportunities or exposure to areas typically not represented within the black community.
Together, Black non-profit organizations are raising awareness, starting or continuing the conversation on many concerns felt by and challenges experienced within the black community.
We, at Support Black Charities, stand for contributing to positive changes within the Black community through the work of Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving organizations all over the world. We are standing behind the new crop of future leaders, change makers and trailblazers. These Black non-profit leaders are who we’ll be recognizing and celebrating during Black History Month in the future.
How can you contribute to Black History this year? Support some of the incredible organizations working to elevate and positively impact the global Black community in so many ways.
Find an organization that matches your interest or passion by browsing our online directory.
We invite you to share with us which organization you decided to support and why.