February is Black (African American) History Month – a time to celebrate and remember the achievements and contributions of Black Americans to our country and society.

The long history of Black America is both vibrant and tragic, infused with a spirit of hope that has persevered through centuries of slavery, oppression, and institutional racism, and spurred victories such as the Civil Rights Movement and the first black President of the United States.

African Americans have had an indelible impact on our country and the world, and everyday we experience the legacy of their achievements in the sciences, arts, literature, politics, sports, language, fashion, music, and more. Indeed, even the very civil liberties that so many in the Asian American community take for granted are largely a product of the efforts of the Black community who bravely fought for civil rights in the 50s and 60s, not just for themselves, but for all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, or skin color.

During Black History Month, TACL encourages the Taiwanese American community to learn more about the history and heritage of the Black community, in the same way that we hope other communities would care to learn about Asian American heritage.

In every major city around the U.S., there are a myriad of events to celebrate Black History Month. We encourage you to join these celebrations and deepen your understanding of the rich culture and history of a community who fought for so many of the freedoms that we enjoy today. Let us begin building bridges and partnerships to create a better future for our communities and for the country.

Here are just a handful of resources/websites that highlight events in some cities around the U.S.:

Atlanta

Austin

Boston

Chicago

Los Angeles/Orange County

New York

San Diego

San Francisco

Seattle

Washington, D.C.

#tacl #blackhistorymonth