Celebrating Black History Year-Round
The arrival of March means the end of Black History Month for many – a ceasing of the celebrations of historic figures in school, a lull of the conversation surrounding the triumph of Black Americans. Here at Farm to Neighborhood, 28 days is far insufficient to honor the lives of the Black heroes who came before us. Along with our mission to uplift the historically Black communities in East Athens, F2N prioritizes the continued celebration of the people of color who paved the path towards true justice on which we now walk.
Why Black History Month?
The establishment of Black History Month can be traced back to Carter G. Woodson – an author, historian, and son to enslaved parents. After this Father of Black History became the second Black student to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard, he was left with disillusionment about the absence of Black history in formal education. He first founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and later proposed the national Negro History Week; in 1976, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, this would become Black History Month.
Woodson elected to celebrate Black History in February to align with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. The anniversary of the approval of the 13th amendment falls on February 1st: informally National Freedom Day, as it celebrates the abolition of slavery in 1865. In Woodson’s words, “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”
How to Celebrate Black History in Athens, GA
- Go on a self-guided tour of Black Heritage in Athens at and walk the Athens African American Heritage Pathway
- Visit Hot Corner, a historic place of Black commerce at the corner of Washington and Hull Streets. Ida May Hiram, the first Black woman to pass Georgia’s Dental Board exams, set up her dental office in Hot Corner.
- Tour the Morton Theatre or see a show; This was the first Vaudeville Theatre in America built, owned, and operated by a Black man, “Pink” Morton.
- Support Black-owned businesses in Athens, Georgia
Celebrating Black History Beyond February
Partake in digital programming to learn more about Black history and culture
Watch the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s 2023 Black History Month Virtual Experience at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g31uhnW4KE
Explore the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Digital Resources, including the Searchable Museum, the Joyful ABC Activity Booklets for kids, and the Talking about Race Web Portal
Prioritize teaching Black history from Black perspectives
A Black Women’s History of the United States by Berry and Gross
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story
Tune in to diverse podcasts
Historically Black Podcast
The Black History Buff Podcast
Witness Black History
Code Switch
Watch movies that celebrate the triumphs and challenges of the Black experience
Summer of Soul
Black is King
Toni Morrison: Black Matters
Minding the Gap
Hidden Figures
Judas and the Black Messiah
Women of the Movement
Traditional Black Recipes to Enjoy Through the Year
"When I think of Afrofuturism, the collard green reigns supreme. Afrofuturism, to me, is examining our food choices and our impact. It’s fighting food insecurity, eliminating food deserts, eating seasonal fruits and vegetables, being mindful of climate change, and ensuring that ingredients are accessible and easy to source for people across the diaspora. It’s looking toward ingredients that can be grown in urban gardens and dense cities. It’s remembering our foodways, but also using the ingredients in new ways. This collard green hand pie recipe takes a traditional, accessible, affordable, and beloved ingredient and works it into something new." –A Girl Called Adri
"Bobó de Camarão is a Brazilian shrimp stew from the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, a region rich in history, flavors, and beauty. Bahia is at the center of Brazil’s culinary scene and is home to our most popular and iconic dishes like moquecas, vatapás, this bobó de camarão, and many others. It’s a real culinary treasure! Bahia is known as Brazil’s most African state because of its strong cultural influence that truly defines local cuisine and lifestyle. This state housed Brazil’s first capital city, Salvador, and is the region where Brazilian slavery brought African influence to, at the time, a prevailing Portuguese culture. This, mixed with the native indigenous influence, created the trifecta of influences that is Brazilian culture today." — Brazilian Kitchen Abroad
“This is a slight twist on the traditional West African hibiscus tea drink, which is one of the most popular Nigerian drinks—the predecessor to similar beverages in the diaspora, and typically served ice cold. Today, we're drinking it warm with the thinking that global warming could possibly shift the warm, tropical weather we currently associate with West Africa to chillier temperatures in the future. This also ties to present day in that people descended from the Continent live all over the world in all kinds of climates." — Dash of Jazz
"This recipe for paleo Caribbean fish and chips uses ingredients from the African diaspora like green bananas instead of potatoes, tamarind, and green seasoning. This move asks us to recognize the Caribbean and African peoples and economies that have made Britain possible." — Heal Me Delicious
“I kept all the amazing New Orleans flavors of classic stewed okra and tomatoes intact but gave the presentation a unique and futuristic twist in keeping with our theme. My interpretation features a smaller portion with the same mouthwatering flavor profile, but with an elevated presentation far from what my grandmother would expect her smothered okra and tomatoes to look like." —Kenneth Temple
"This Upside-Down Mango Cake With Coconut Cream recipe is inspired by my love for baking and West African fruits. Mangoes and coconuts grow freely in Nigeria as well as other African countries. Desserts are relatively new in Nigeria as wheat flour was introduced to the country by the British in the early 20th century. Popular West African flour-based recipes include puff puff, chin chin and meat pie. Although cakes are served on special occasions by the African diaspora and in West Africa, the flavor and recipes tend to be simple as the idea of desserts is still relatively new." — Sims Home Kitchen
