Celebrating Black History Month 2023
February marks the beginning of Black History Month. We wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate and honor the Black peoples, cultures, and traditions from around the world.
We especially want to highlight the intersection between the Black and Latinx communities. A quarter of Hispanics living in the U.S. identify as Afro-Latino. Black Americans and Afro-Latinos have contributed a significant amount to all Latin American and North American cultures, and while colorism is prevalent in the United States and Latin America, but slowly as a society, we’ve begun to recognize Afro-Latinos for their significant impact on our countries. From three-time World Cup champion Pelé to Portland’s own and Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding, Black Latinos continuously shape and impact society and culture in the United States and abroad.
We also recognize that we live in a country with a history tainted by white supremacy, and the disproportionately violent treatment of Black Americans by police is a continual and painful reminder of this history that continues to the present day. In the light of the recent killing of Tyre Nichols by police, we want to not only speak out against the systems that contribute to the brutalization of so many Black and brown Americans, but also speak to the joy that Tyre’s family wanted us to be the thing that we remembered about him. Centering Black joy and celebrating the lives and accomplishments of the Black community–this month and every month–as we fight to make a more just world is the only thing we can do to ensure that we have the strength to keep fighting.
Here are some events that you can attend in Portland to celebrate Black History Month and educate yourself more about Black history:
Black History Month in Portland
10 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in Portland
Black History Festival NW 2023
Cascade Festival of African Films
All Power to the People: Remembering the Legacy of the Black Panther Party in Portland
Tyre Nichols Skateboarding: How His Family Wants Him Remembered
