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Black people should be celebrated, amplified, and supported year-round, especially disabled Black people. February is Black History Month. While it's amazing to see brands, organizations, and creators participate in sharing awareness, we cannot forget that the commitments we make during Black History Month should go beyond just February. In the disability community, Black disabled voices are often left out of important conversations. Let’s recognize Black History Month by amplifying these disabled creators. Here are 8 disabled Black advocates to follow: Andraea LaVant Lachi ♫ Keri Gray Natalie Trevonne Jennifer White-Johnson Akilah Cadet, DHSc, MPH Ola Ojewumi Tricia Downing Haben Girma Who else would you add? P.S. Please note that we’ve included creators who might identify as biracial and who feel like they don’t fit in only one racial box. I still wanted to honor and include them here. #DisabilityAwareness #BlackHistoryMonth #Disability 

Alt text : Vibrant image celebrating Black History Month with a central circle adorned in the colors of African heritage - orange, red, green, and golden yellow. The dates 'Feb 01 to Mar 01' encircle the central design, featuring the New York Association on Independent Living banner and the NYAIL house logo, embodying unity and diversity. 🌟 Inspire Together: Celebrating Black History Month & the Disability Rights Movement 🌈 Step into the heart of unity as we joyfully embrace Black History Month 🎉💙 Join us in celebrating the powerful connection between Black history and the Disability Rights Movement, weaving a tapestry of resilience and shared empowerment. 💡 Shared Empowerment: Within the intricate threads of Black history, we discover stories of triumph and justice. This month, let's unite to honor those who've paved the way for equality, creating a legacy of inclusivity that inspires generations. 🌍 Intersecting Journeys: The Disability Rights Movement, interwoven with Black history, showcases strength born from adversity. Explore the narratives of leaders like Harriet Tubman and Fannie Lou Hamer, proving that disability enhances, rather than diminishes, the call for justice. 🎤 Amplifying Voices: Join us in elevating stories often overlooked. By celebrating the achievements of Black disabled leaders, we amplify voices that inspire, educate, and foster understanding, creating a more inclusive society. 🌟 Why Celebrate Together? Because We Inspire One Another: This month exemplifies the power of unity. By celebrating together, we bridge gaps, challenge norms, and envision a world where inclusivity reigns supreme. Share your thoughts using #InspireTogether, turning this celebration into a collective experience. Together, we inspire one another because our stories, intertwined and celebrated, truly amplify the strength within each narrative. 🌟💚 #CelebrateUnity #InspireTogether #BlackHistoryMonth

#BlackDisabledFuturesMonth acknowledges the contributions of Black disabled leaders throughout history and focuses on supporting the futures of Black disabled people today. This week, our feature Keah Brown shares the importance of focusing on today's Black disabled leaders during #BlackHistoryMonth. Descriptive Transcript: Keah Brown, a Black woman with pulled-back black hair wearing a black shirt and red lipstick talks to camera. [Keah]: My name is Keah Brown, [upbeat, driving music plays] [purple and black circular transition with white text reads "Why is it important to celebrate disability today during Black History Month?" [Keah]: and I think that we should be talking about disability during Black History Month today because one, we don't know enough about our forefathers and foremothers that came before us. The people that were a part of every major Black movement we've seen who have gone unsung and unheard and uncelebrated. I think it's important that we remember that Black disabled people are a part of every single fight that Black people have had. We've been supporters, we've been champions, we've been on the front line, and it is important that we don't forget that aspect of who we are and that it's possible to be both Black and disabled and we should be celebrated as both because we are both things at once. I also think it's important that we talk about it because there are people now today doing fantastic work that deserve to be celebrated, heard, understood, and listened to. I don't think that we can move forward as a Black people without first thinking of disability because when we all rise, we have to all rise -- not just able-bodied Black people, but everybody. And I think in order to do that work, we have to be thinking about Black disability in tandem with everything else during Black History Month. [A purple and black circular transition reads "Uplift Black Disabled Futures."] [The white LaVant Consulting, Inc. logo rolls in on a black screen.]

During Black History Month, it's essential to recognize and amplify the voices of Black individuals with disabilities. Black Disabled Lives Matter advocates for the intersectional experiences of Black people living with disabilities, addressing systemic inequalities and advocating for justice and inclusion. This month, let's honor the contributions and resilience of Black disabled individuals, elevate their stories, and work towards creating a more equitable and accessible world for all. As we celebrate Black History Month, it's crucial to shine a light on the often overlooked but incredibly important intersection of race and disability. Black Disabled Lives Matter is a movement that highlights the unique challenges faced by Black individuals with disabilities, from systemic barriers to access to healthcare and education, to disproportionate rates of violence and incarceration. This month, let's have conversations that center around the needs and experiences of Black people living with disabilities. It's about recognizing their resilience, amplifying their voices, and advocating for meaningful change. Whether it's pushing for more inclusive policies, supporting accessible initiatives, or simply listening to their stories, we all have a role to play in ensuring that Black disabled lives are valued, respected, and given the opportunity to thrive. https://lnkd.in/ePP4DjBt #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackDisabledLivesMatter

And on this 32nd day of celebrating Black History, here are 21 ideas for celebrating at work. And to all my fellow allies, just a few reminders… - Dear White Allies ✊🏻 Calling out instances of racial bias is not creating more division. Your silence and refusal to see color is not an act of allyship. - Dear LGBTQ Allies 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ please refrain from comparing the historical and present struggles of the queer community to the black community. White gay men, you do not have an inner black woman. That is called cultural misappropriation. - Dear Education Allies 📚 please refrain from any cosplay (which includes but is not limited to kente cloth and dressing as an enslaved person for “educational purposes”. Black Trauma is very real. - Dear Irish Allies ☘️ please study the difference between indentured servitude and slavery. They are not similarly situated experiences. - Dear Neurodivergent Allies 🧠 having mental, emotional, and behavioral differences does not negate the harm done by any offensive words or behavior toward the black community that stem from neurodivergence. You may have an excuse to explain the offense, but that doesn’t mean it is justified. - Dear All Allies 👩🏾🤝👨🏼 proximity to blackness (“I have black friends”) does not impute immunity from being racist. The Black community is not a monolith. There are diverse perspectives within the community. So, listen with the intent to understand rather than defend. Meeting Adjourned! #BlackHistoryIsAmericanHistory #HappyBlackHistoryMonth 💚🖤❤️✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

February is Black History Month, a time to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of African Americans throughout history. At JBG SMITH, we’re celebrating by shining a spotlight on some of our amazing African American employees who were nominated for this honor!   Meet Jason Green, a Portfolio Manager who oversees six office buildings within JBG SMITH’s diverse commercial portfolio. As an artist, this year’s Black History Month theme, "African Americans and the Arts,” resonates with Jason. “I recognize the role art plays in social justice. African American artists have historically served as change agents through their crafts. This is especially important today as state legislatures across the country have introduced bills to limit the discussion of racial history. For example, books that tell the stories of LGBTQ+ and Black people—I am both—are being banned. So, this year’s theme is especially meaningful and personal to me.” Jason recognizes and celebrates Black greatness every day; but during Black History Month he’s especially active on social media, with a goal of amplifying Black voices. For example, he recently posted about Black and Mobile [blackandmobile.com], the first Black-owned food delivery service in the country that delivers exclusively from Black-owned restaurants. If you or someone you know is in Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, or Philadelphia, check them out! He also participates in a monthly Instagram Live podcast called “Take Aim” which creates a safe space for discussions that impact the Black and LGBTQ+ communities. Jason is proudly his ancestors’ wildest dream. Despite the challenges of the time, he feels extremely blessed to be alive in this era and grateful for the myriad contributions of those who came before him. “I am a Portfolio Manager at one of the largest real estate companies in and around our nation’s capital. I am Black. I have a voice. I am seen. My very existence is proof that the work of my ancestors was not in vain.” #BlackExcellence. #BHM #AA #EQUITY #BlackHistoryMonth2024

The characteristics that make up our identity are intertwined. They come together to make us who we are, impact what we experience, and how we navigate life. This Black History Month, as part of our Amplify voices series, we'll be taking the time to celebrate and acknowledge the lives and contributions of some of our Black colleagues, listening to their stories and learning from their experiences. To begin our series, Rashael Kelly-Jarvis discusses the impact that representation can have, highlighting the importance of not viewing someone's identity in isolation. https://ow.ly/PE5Z50PRRe8

As we celebrate Black History Month, we at the Foundation affirm our commitment to dismantling a belief in a hierarchy of human value, with a focus on racial equity. Our work to create a just and equitable Minnesota where all communities and people thrive starts within our organization. "If you ever want to know if an organization is authentic in its equity work, the people you should talk to are those who have historically been sidelined, such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities," says Chief Operating Officer Nadege Souvenir. "For me, it's significant that our BIPOC staff feel a sense of belonging and see themselves in our work; it reflects all the work that we've made over the last few years. I think it is one of the strongest markers of our DEI progress." We recently spoke to Nadege about how the Foundation works to ensure that equity is not just a buzzword but a way of operating that extends to every corner of the organization. Read our Q&A with Nadege ➡️ https://hubs.ly/Q02kHlZx0 #BlackHistoryMonth #AdvocatingForEquity #DEI #equity #WorkplaceDEI #WorkplaceEquity #OperationalizingEquity

For this Black History Month and beyond, it is important to educate ourselves on the contributions of influential Black and Disabled leaders. In this great article, Dikko Yusuf discusses the importance of adopting a Disability Justice approach. This approach emphasizes the need for a society that not only celebrates intersectionality but is also actively inclusive of Black and Disabled individuals. https://lnkd.in/efhAC4hx

Happy Black History Month!   As we enter this month, I'm in a state where I reflect on all of my emotions entering this month. ·        APPRECIATION- For all those who came before me fighting for racial equality, and for those who continue this fight to this day! ·        ANGER- At the fact that we are still fighting this fight, and have to constantly defend ourselves for fighting this cause. o  That black people are still dying at an alarming rate by those who are in positions of authority. o  That prisons and the justice system have become the modern-day Jim Crow. o  Politicians trying to WHITEWASH history by removing books, enforcing what should be taught to children, rewriting history by stating that “slavery benefited black people”, and more. ·        FRUSTRATION- For not being viewed as good enough as your white counterparts. o  For being held to a different standard than my white counterparts. o  You have to be able to display your leadership capabilities without being too assertive or else you’re labeled an ABM or ABW (Angry Black Man or Angry Black Woman). o  Frustrated that when it comes to supporting the black community, that also comes with an invisible asterisk at times if you’re Black and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. ·        REMORSE- For those who have lost their lives senselessly due to the systemic and outright blatant racism that exists in our society. o  Remorseful for those who feel that being silent to these issues, doesn’t show how complicit they are with these issues. ·        CELEBRATION- This is a cause for celebration for the great strides that our community has made through all of these years and the work that we have yet to fulfill. ·        GRATITUDE- Thankful for those who have made racial equity a cause to fight for. o  Thankful for the TRUE allies that are not afraid to speak up in the presence of BIPOC, but also when they are not present. o  To have a network of colleagues, friends, and family committed towards making our society more diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive while creating a sense of belonging. ·        ANXIETY- Concern about our future as a race and as a country to allow these systems and people in power to disenfranchise the black community for so long. ·        HOPELESS- This feeling comes from feeling like things are never going to change, and we are regressing as a society. ·        HOPEFUL- Throughout everything that WE have gone through and continue to go through, we can only hope and continue this fight for equality in our workplaces, equality walking the streets, equality sitting in your home, equality in schools, and equality overall in our society. I welcome anyone who wants to discuss perspectives. The conversation is OPEN!