It’s Black History Month! While we recognize February as the month of love, it’s important we also recognize and celebrate Black achievement and excellence. Equality hasn’t always played its part, so it’s crucial we play our part in supporting our community!  

Black History Month was formerly celebrated as a week-long holiday. It wasn’t until 1976 when President Gerald R. Ford declared the entire month of February as Black History Month. If you’re a West Michigander, you’re probably aware that President Ford is a Grand Rapids native–he’s actually buried at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids. How inspiring that a President so close to home has made such a big difference for the Black community!  

How can I celebrate Black History Month?  

 

First, education is key! Educating yourself on why we celebrate Black history is the first step. There are plenty of educational seminars–virtual and in-person–happening across West Michigan where you can learn about different issues in the Black community, such as marginalization, women’s rights, and inequality. Here are a few: 

**Find a list of more educational and cultural events occurring across West Michigan in this article.  

 

Spend your night-out at a Black-owned restaurant! There are plenty of minority-owned restaurants across West Michigan, but here’s an article with over 20 different places to grab dinner, dessert, or a quick snack:  

20+ delicious and local Black-owned restaurants to try in West MI 

 

Support local minority-owned businesses! “Shopping small” helps build your community and allows you to support small-business owners: 

The Grand Rapids Area Black Business (GRABB) website is a great resource to find local Black-owned businesses. GRABB promotes Black-owned businesses to give these local entrepreneurs greater opportunities in the area. Visit their website here. 

Jessa Challa had the idea to create an interactive map with 184 minority-owned businesses across Grand Rapids. As a woman of color, Jessa wanted to provide an easier way for community members to spot out small, minority-owned businesses. Read more about Jessa’s story and find her interactive map in this article here.  

Whether you’re into history, music, food, or learning, there are events for everyone to commemorate Black History Month in West Michigan. I encourage you to learn more about why we celebrate and try something new to support the Black community. Make sure to remember as February ends, our support should continue throughout the rest of the year!