12 Black History Month Recs

I sometimes worry that Black History Month is counter-productive. Yes, it’s nice to have a platform to celebrate the culture and shine a light on the continued struggles around race in America. And I’m glad that it’s a month (originally it was just a week!). But BHM commemorations often feel like box-checking: ‘Here’s the time of year when I remember to support Black causes/businesses/artists.’ How great would it be if, instead, these things were just part of our lives, year-round?

That’s my dream, so this Black History Month, I’d like to highlight some favorite things to enjoy all year…

An IG account that keeps me learning: @ashleytheebarroness creates videos on obscure — sometimes intentionally disregarded — corners of history, tracing each topic to the present. I’ve learned more from her than all of my high-school history classes. One recent post breaking down white supremacy (“White Narcissism,” as she calls it) had me fully in its clutches and saying, “Amen!” Watching Ashley feels like sitting in a lecture with a charismatic, clear-eyed professor.

A favorite poem: When I was a teenager, I won a competition for my recitation of For My People by Margaret Walker. I remember wishing I’d chosen a shorter poem because it’s long. But it’s also epic and beautiful, and brims with pride and resistance. We could all use more poetry in our lives — and more artists speaking truth to power, which Margaret did so elegantly.

Home decor with a message: How inspiring are these pennants from Rayo & Honey? They make great gifts. I also love their totes, keychains, and pens — and the fact that it’s a business built from the heart of a Black woman.

A must-have skincare product: I recommended Beauty Stat’s Vitamin C Serum as a product fave back when I did CoJ’s Beauty Uniform. Five years later, my passion endures for this illuminating serum, created by a pioneering Black chemist.

A TV show I’ll always re-watch: For five seasons, Insecure — starring Issa Rae, Natasha Rothwell and other incredible actresses — made me laugh, cringe, cry, and agonize over a fictional love triangle that I was more invested in than my own love life. Tell me if you’re Team Daniel or Team Lawrence. (Bonus recs: Survival of the Thickest, Harlem, Run The World, and of course, the OG classic, Girlfriends.)

Wine by two sisters: Red wine calls to me on these cold, dark winter evenings. The red blend from Black Girl Magic Wines is one of the all-time bests, but really, you can’t go wrong with any of their bottles; they’re great quality at a reasonable price point. And if you need new stemware, check out the gorgeous sets by Estelle Colored Glass (the amethyst! So pretty!).

A novel I can’t wait to read: When Tayari Jones publishes a book, it’s an event. Her fourth novel, Kin, comes out next week, and the excitement has been building for MONTHS. It’s about two friends from Louisiana, whose lives take vastly different turns. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

A gem of a bookstore: There’s been a gratifying rise in Black-owned bookstores these last few years. Kansas City’s Bliss Books is run by two sisters who dreamed of opening a bookstore together (awwww!) and actually did it! I also love Loyalty Books, in Silver Spring, Maryland, my hometown. And if you’re in NYC, check out Liz’s Book Bar, The Little Bookshop and The Lit Bar.

A beautiful night out: Admittedly, I’m not the most cultured person when it comes to fine arts — but I do love (love love) dance. I’ve seen the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform several times, and it’s soul-stirring. The company was founded in 1958 to “uplift the African American experience while transcending boundaries of race, faith, and nationality with its universal humanity,” and almost 70 years later, they remain steadfast in their mission. Art funding is so precarious at the moment — especially BIPOC art — it needs our support!

A timely article that made me feverishly nod my head: I read a lot of long-form journalism — a lot — and I’m still thinking about this recent Atlantic article by Clint Smith, which hit on so many points about why Black history matters, and why it’s so critical in our current moment that we keep fighting against its erasure. Other Black journalists I admire for their insightful takes and having their finger on the pulse: Tressie McMillan Cottom, Mitchell S. Jackson and Ta-Nehisi Coates.

A cause I’m glad to support: As a child of the ‘70s/’80s, I can’t forget the iconic TV ads for the United Negro College Fund (especially this one — the end still make me cry!) In the post-Civil Rights era, UNCF helped launch a generation of kids into the middle-class by giving them access to education. Decades later, their good work continues. I used one of my book events to raise funds for UNCF, and I can’t think of a better way to honor BHM than by supporting this worthy organization.

What are your own recommendations? I hope you’ll share them with us, too.

Christine Pride is a writer, book editor and content consultant who lives in Harlem, New York. Her latest book is All The Men I’ve Loved Again, and you can read her past Cup of Jo posts here.

P.S. A reading challenge, and five more things I want to tell my white friends.

(Photo of Christine Pride by Christine Han for Cup of Jo.)