Black male, orange hat, green shirt, pointing, yelling into yellow megapha

Impactful Ways You Can Celebrate Black History Month

Make the most of Black History Month this year by checking out the different ways you and your friends can celebrate and show support at your school.

Although Black History should be explored, learned about, and discussed all year round, Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate all things Black culture. Each year, Black History Month centers around a theme that is pulled from a key event in history. Last year’s theme was African Americans and the Vote, which honored the sesquicentennial anniversary of the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) giving Black men the right to vote and the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment (1920) granting women’s suffrage. This year's theme is The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity. Black History Month is the perfect time for all of us to recognize and celebrate the triumphs and contributions of Black Americans. If you’re not sure how to go about commemorating Black History Month at your school, here are some ideas to get you started.

Plan an event

Get some friends together and plan an event dedicated to your favorite celebrities or key historical figures. These are just three kinds of events you could coordinate to highlight important voices of Black culture.

PowerPoint party with friends

“PowerPoint parties” started popping up around the internet back in 2018. The concept is to have a party with your friends with the creative twist of giving a short three-minute presentation on something you’re passionate about. This is already a clever idea to do something different with your friends, so why not make it even better and more impactful by making it Black History Month themed? Have everyone create short presentations about important, lesser known Black historical figures. History taught in most public schools saw us learning about staple influential figures like Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King Jr., who are crucial to American history, but you could make this an opportunity for everyone to learn about other incredible Black men and women you haven’t learned about in school as well.

School movie and music night featuring all Black performers

If your school allows students to plan events in a common area like a student lounge or cafeteria—or perhaps now outdoors, so it can be safe and socially distanced—take advantage of it. Plan an event where students can come have snacks, listen to music, and watch movies. Make a set list of songs of all Black musicians and singers, and your movies choices could feature important Black stories, Black filmmakers, or a predominantly Black cast. You can make it even more meaningful for your classmates by having an appreciation board. Get some kind of corkboard and have students write on paper why they feel certain performers are influential and important people in the Black community and the impact those performers have had on them.

Speak up and show support

Sometimes planning events can be difficult with such busy schedules or if your school doesn’t allow students to plan events like the ones suggested above. But there are still other ways to celebrate and show support. Instead of planning, try getting involved!

Ask your teachers to dedicate class time to discussing Black history

Unless you’re already taking Black or African American studies courses, there’s a good chance a lot of your classes that could be covering Black history topics are not. But Black history is American history, so instead of just letting classes roll on as expected during the month of February, speak up! Ask teachers or professors in any of your classes if they can add a Black studies portion into their lesson plans for upcoming classes or even dedicate an entire lesson to it. While the topic shift could be a little off structure of the typical curriculum for some classes (math courses) than others (history courses), it’s still worth asking professors from a variety of subjects. There are influential Black mathematicians. There are important Black scientists. There are prominent Black lawyers, writers, painters, inventors, and so much more. There isn’t a school subject that hasn’t been changed or progressed by the hands of Black individuals, and you speaking up could bring a whole new depth to the lessons that was previously unexplored.

Related: Spotlight on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Volunteer with friends to support Black communities

Volunteering is important, and everyone should incorporate it regularly into their lives. During Black History Month, dedicate your time and energy to volunteering with organizations that support Black communities and causes. Do your research with the resources you have on your campus to find out what opportunities may be available. Or ask someone who knows the area around your school better than you do for suggestions. Make sure, as with any volunteer opportunity, to find credible organizations so you aren’t signing up for scams, and if your schedule allows it, try to set up a couple of different opportunities to help in different ways over the month.

Join safe protesting events that acknowledge and support Black issues

Protesting often comes with negative connotations because we’ve seen protests get out of hand and dangerous in our history, especially for the Black community fighting for their rights. You can always find a safe but impactful way to show your support and listen to Black issues. Protesting can be peaceful, moving, and empowering when you find the right organizations through which to join the cause. The importance of people of all races supporting Black communities and issues cannot be overstated. But if you don’t identify as a Black American, remember a couple of things when providing your support: You are not meant to be a savoir, and your voice should never be louder than the voices of the Black community. Be there to listen, support, and learn from the people around you. The best way to be an advocate for Black rights is to help amplify the voices and stories of the Black community, not speak for them.

Get out and vote

The past year has taught us a lot about the importance of voting, and what better way to pay homage than by exercising your right to do so? Black men and women fought hard throughout history to earn what they should have always had, and it would be a disservice to those men and women not to take advantage of that right. Elections have been a tumultuous time for the Black community in recent years and in many other eras throughout history. The only way to make progress toward a better future is if everyone takes part. Make your voice matter by voting for policies and people that support, fight for, and positively impact the Black community and the issues they face.

Related: 5 Reasons Why Young Adults Should Vote This Year (and Every Year)

Black History Month is important regardless of your race. The Black community is a crucial pillar of American history that deserves even more attention than just the month of February. While these are just a handful of ways you can celebrate and support important causes, never stop looking for opportunities to empower the Black community and, if you’re a person of color, yourself.

How are you celebrating Black History Month at your school? Let us know by tweeting us, posting on our Facebook page, or leaving a comment on Instagram.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

About CollegeXpress

CollegeXpress

Welcome to CollegeXpress, your one-stop college shop! We’re a free college planning website used by millions of college-bound students, parents, and counselors—anyone who needs help navigating the college search and application process, financial aid opportunities, and more. You’ll find comprehensive College Search and Scholarship Search tools, tons of articles and expert advice, unique college Lists & Rankings, and lots of other resources to help make your life easier. Teen Vogue even named us one of the 7 Best College Search Websites! But current college students and recent grads also love CollegeXpress for our Graduate Program Search and endless information on student life, internships, and beyond. We really have something for everyone, no matter where you are in your college journey. Create a free account to start connecting with colleges, winning scholarships, and more!

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

Concordia University Irvine

Irvine, CA


Aaliyah

Aaliyah

High School Class of 2022

My mother signed me up for a couple of scholarship contests through CollegeXpress. I was also able to do some research and compare the different schools on my list. I was able to see the graduation rates and different programs that helped me decide on Adelphi University. I will continue looking for some scholarships for my start in September.

Bri'Yana Brown-Dunn

Bri'Yana Brown-Dunn

High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress helped me gain interest in many colleges/universities and many scholarships. I would say the most helpful thing CollegeXpress has done for me is sending me emails that tell me certain types of colleges are interested in me as well as emails about scholarships that I can look at and possibly apply for.

Maya Ingraham

Maya Ingraham

October 2021 Mini Scholarship Winner, Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has given me more confidence in my college process. With easy-to-access resources and guidance such as the CX Weekly Roundup, I have been able to find the best colleges for me. Most importantly, there’s a surplus of scholarship opportunities for every student to support their education.

Kayla

Kayla

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress helped me organize the schools I wanted to choose from in one place, which I could then easily compare and find the school that was right for me!

Sadie Hartmann

Sadie Hartmann

High School Class of 2021

I'm a senior in high school, and CollegeXpress has helped me in so many ways this year in trying to navigate the process of deciding and committing to a university. The COVID-19 Student Resource Center has helped me many times with the most up-to-date and accurate information, along with financial aid and student life [advice]. During these uncertain times, CollegeXpress has been a great recourse to relieve the stress as a senior. Along with the COVID-19 Student Resource Center, I'm constantly using the extremely helpful tools off the site to aid me during this stressful process. Tools like the lists and rankings of universities have been the most beneficial. I've also used the site to receive expert advice on topics like financial aid. Finally, CollegeXpress has helped me easily apply for several scholarships. I'm thankful to be given the chance to win a scholarship to lessen the burden of my college debt.