Today kicks off Black History Month 2024—here's how to celebrate (2024)

February is here, which marks the beginning of Black History Month 2024. Black History Month is a month-long celebration dedicated to supporting Black culture, artists, and, most importantly, recognizing the important role of Black people in American history. Here’s everything you need to know about the celebration, including how it came to be. Read on to find out what this year's theme is and ways you can join in on the celebrations from your couch and beyond.

When is Black History Month 2024?

Black History Month is celebrated annually during the month of February.

What is Black History Month?

Black History Month is a month-long celebration of Black history and achievement. While the month is primarily used as an avenue for delving into history, many use the month to highlight the contributions of Black creatives as well as support Black-owned businesses.

The origin of Black History Month dates back to 1926, when it was known as “Negro History Week.” It was celebrated during February to honor the birthdays of both Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. The celebration was highly popular and led to an increased interest in Black history. The week’s popularity grew each decade until, in 1976, it was expanded into a month. Gerald R. Ford gave a presidential proclamation recognizing the holiday and every president has done so every year since.

What is the theme of Black History Month 2024?

As explained by the National Museum of African American Culture, the theme for Black History Month 2024 is highlighting the art of resistance as described by "using their crafts to uplift the race, speak truth to power and inspire a nation."

How to celebrate Black History Month 2024

Read Black authors

One way to celebrate Black History Month is through supporting and engaging with the written word of Black authors.

One of the more prolific Black authors is Coulson Whitehead, author of imaginative novels such as the award-winning The Underground Railroad. His latest work Crook Manifesto is the second in a series of books serving as snapshots of Harlem — one of the most famous Black neighborhoods in the country. In Crook Manifesto, we follow Harlem in the 70s, a tumultuous period as tensions reach a fever pitch between the citizens and the police.

Another recent book by a Black author to read is Blk Art by Zaria Ware. This NAACP Image Award-nominated nonfiction book delves into the often-unseen history of Black artists through the ages. Reading this book, you’ll doubtless learn about new Black sculptors, painters, and models.

Learn about Black history

There are tons of ways to delve into Black history including reading the countless books devoted to this field. No one book will comprehensively cover every facet of Black history and you’ll likely read several books over the month to get a fuller picture. To save space and time, we recommend reading your books via an e-reader. Our favorite is the 11th-generation Amazon Kindle. We love this e-reader because it’s compact and features a responsive, crisp, and bright display.

If you’re more of an audio-visual learner, there are plenty of documentaries and biopics to check out on the various streaming services out there. To get streaming services in one convenient place, we recommend using a streaming device. The best we’ve tested is the Roku Ultra, which is fast and supports premium video and audio options.

Go to a Black history museum or celebration

Many find learning about history through museums and celebrations more engaging and immersive than through books and documentaries. Several museums across the nation contain exhibits dedicated to Black history, not to mention there are ones that are wholly focused on it.

Listen to Black artists

From the Temptations to Beyonce, The Ink Spots to Ice Spice, Black History Month is the perfect time to dive into the sonic achievements of Black people and appreciate their music across many eras. Grab your music streaming service of choice and listen to old favorites or new discoveries with our favorite pair of headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4, which we love because of their excellent audio quality, great noise-cancellation, and comfortable feel.

Support Black creatives

Black creativity is also expressed in beautiful artwork. Black painters, collagists, and other visual artists can be found on sites such as Etsy. A studio to support is Sheree Brand Art Co. This Maryland-based artist sells many wonderful paintings celebrating the beauty of people of various shades.

Shop Sheree Brand Art Co. on Etsy

Shop City and Flower Collage on Etsy

Shop Black-owned businesses and brands

Ami Colé

Not all makeup is created equal, and options can be particularly limited for those with darker skin. It’s why Ami Colé founder Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye created the brand in 2018. It has made a name for itself thanks to its noble mission and its great products like the Hydrating Lip Treatment Oil Set.

Be Rooted

Be Rooted is based around the simple affirmation of “you belong here” and to this end, it features women of color in a variety of products they aren’t often featured on, including journals, calendars, and planners. Many love Be Rooted journals because it helps them feel represented and inspired every time they open them.

Eu'Genia

Shea butter has been a favored beauty product of people of color for years. For many, the only downside to this moisturizing, all-natural extract is its texture. That’s where Eu’Genia Shea Butter comes in with its shea butter that’s buttery smooth. This variety pack comes with lavender, grapefruit, and unscented shea butter.

Loved01

John Legend doesn’t just give us great songs, but an excellent skincare line as well. His Loved01 is tailor made to address the unique skincare issues of melanin-rich skin. We tested the brand ourselves and loved the moisture and shine it brings. Plus, it’s affordable.

Shop Loved01 at CVS

City Tasting Box

City Tasting Box is another Black brand to shop. This ingenious product allows you to travel to a city through the power of food. This particular box will see you journey to Memphis, Tennessee through delicious landmarks such as Makeda’s cookies, Rendezvous' BBQ seasoning, and My Cup of Tea's teabags.

Uncle Nearest Whiskey

What better way to kick off both Black History Month and the end of Dry January than by supporting a Black business rooted in history? The famous Jack Daniels owed his expertise to the teachings of a master Black distiller, Uncle Nearest, whom this delicious whiskey brand is named after. Since its inception in 2016, the brand has won numerous awards for its smooth taste.

Camille Rose

Give your hair a taste of honey with Camille Rose Honey Hydrate Leave-In Conditioner. It’s great for many different hair textures leaving hair hydrated and, of course, smelling great.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.