February is Black History Month!

Black History Month is a time to honor and celebrate Black and African American rich history and cultural heritage and pay tribute to the innumerable contributions of Black and African American communities.

Join SOS in celebrating Black History Month with our favorite Black literature, short films, podcasts, and events!

READ

Non-fiction:

• The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just by Mélina Mangal (Author), Luisa Uribe (Illustrator)
• The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet by Leah Thomas 
• Born on the water by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Renée Watson, Nikkolas Smith
• Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman
• An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States by Kyle T. Mays
• Counting the Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician by Lesa Cline-Ransome
• Changing the Equation 50+ US Black Women in STEM by Tonya Bolden
• Young, Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present by Jamia Wilson Andrea Pippins (Illustrator)
• Young, Gifted and Black Too: Meet 52 More Black Icons from Past and Present by Jamia Wilson (Author) Andrea Pippins (Illustrator)
• Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed (author) Stasia Burrington (Illustrator)
• Climate Justice: Black and Native Attention as Miracle by Loam

Fiction:

• Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler and listen to ‘Octavia’s Parables’ podcast with hosts Toshi Reagon and adrienne maree brown

Poetry:

• Celebrating Black History Month with poems, articles, and podcasts that explore African American history and culture collected by the Poetry Foundation
• 'Black Nature': Poems Of Promise And Survival edited by Camille T. Dungy
• The idea of ancestry after Etheridge Knight by Rio Cortez

WATCH

• Out & Back, hosted by author, activist and runner Alison Mariella Désir. This series brings PNW residents and groups working to bring Black, Indigenous and People of color to reclaim space in the outdoors, and encouraging others to get outside with them.
• Expedition Reclamation is a documentary seeking to redefine “outdoorsy” and reclaim belonging in the outdoors for Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color by highlighting their joyful, resilient, & transformative relationships to outdoor recreation.
• Where I Belong, featuring angler and conservationist Christine Hill, a series by The Outbound Collective
• Resilience, featuring Lesford Duncan & Outdoor Outreach as they strive to connect youth with the transformative power of the outdoors, a series by The Outbound Collective
• Our Parks Too!, series with Kristen Walker and Diamon Clark on their journey to visit all 63 National Parks in the United States.
• Here We Stand featuring Teresa Baker, a series by The Outbound Collective

LISTEN

Podcasts:

• ‘I've Known Rivers’ episode on Langston Hughes’ poetry with Elizabeth Alexander
• ‘1619’ hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones
• ‘HIstorically Black’ by APM Reports & The Washington Post 

ATTEND

Events: 

• Northwest African American Museums: Upcoming and current exhibits and events.
• The National Museum of African American History and Culture: Black History Month online events and read more about Black History Month 2023 theme - Black Resistance.