This year, February 2025, marks 99 years of celebrating the enormous achievements of Black people in the United States and around the world. In 1926, Ph.D. historian Carter G. Woodson, founded with Black minister, Jesse E. Moorland, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History to research and present documented evidence of Black people’s accomplishments. He offered historical facts so that no one could refute these facts, and no one could justify believing that Black people were inferior. One of these scientific facts is that all humankind began in East Africa the location where scientists determined contained the oldest human bones. This year in 2025, it is critically important to celebrate ourselves as a protective barrier against all the chaos that is swirling in this country.

Celebrating Black History is a decision, especially since there are less Black History Month programs and events to attend in Madison this year. Unlike last year, most television and streaming media are no longer acknowledging Black History Month with frequent messaging or any acknowledgments, except for the Public Broadcast Company. Due to the presidential elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at a federal level, the Air Force immediately removed videos about the Tuskegee aviators from its basic training curriculum. When Senator Katie Boyd Britt, R-Alabama, the state where the Tuskegee Airmen trained, complained about their erasure, then the decision reversed. This is a preview of the worst to come in the next four years.

One piece of good news is that Dr. Richard Harris' book, “Growing up Black in South Madison” will be taught at four Madison public high schools: LaFollette, Memorial, East and West. The last two high schools, Malcolm Shabazz, named after the famous Black Muslim leader, and Capitol, ares missing from the list. This book highlight Madison Black History, and comments on the ethnicities living in peace and respecting all cultures in South Madison

Another piece of good news is Madison Senior Center is holding a Black History Festival on February 28 from 1-4 at 303 W. Mifflin. This festival  is free for older adults and registration is required. Organized by Ericka Booey, Older Adult Program & Outreach Coordinator, the partners include my employer, The Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, the African Center, the African American Opioid Coalition, NewBridge and Safe Communities.

Leading up to Black History Month, I listened to a powerful speech by Reverend Al Sharpton at Metropolitan AME Church. Sharpton is founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), and his organization is researching for 90 days, which companies have dropped DEI before Sharpton calls for a nation-wide boycott of these identified companies. Here is one challenge that everyone in this country will eventually face: to accept injustice or to resist injustice. I am glad that Sharpton is researching carefully to make this list, because I will not financially support companies, who stopped DEI, effectively ending policies that discriminate. Spend your money on businesses that support your principles and boycott those that do not. This strategy was a successful one that our grandparents and parents used to force change for equal rights. They stopped riding the bus in the Montgomery bus boycott for over a year, to avoid being forced to the back of the bus, many walking for the entire year. It is much easier for us to boycott now than it was in the past. Black History Month means celebration and it also means understanding the sacrifices Black people must continue to make for equal rights and justice. Black History Month extends  our care and concern for all our neighbors who suffer injustice; Indigenous, Latin, Asians, the economically poor and others, in Wisconsin and the USA.