Color Of Change Presents 2nd Annual Black History Now Awards Feb. 27
We know who the bad actors are when it comes to trying to erase Black history. So now, let’s come together and celebrate the true champions of Black history — those who are lifting up our history.
Color Of Change created an awards ceremony to do just that — and you’re invited.
This month, Color Of Change proudly presents its 2nd Annual Black History Now Awards, streaming on COC’s Facebook page and YouTube channel beginning Monday, Feb. 27, at 8 p.m. ET.
The ceremony will honor seven people — educators, advocates, policymakers and entrepreneurs — whose work embodies what it means to put justice first. The Black History Now Awards also will feature a Who’s Who of presenters, including Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson; Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw; “The 1619 Project” creator Nikole Hannah-Jones; bestselling author and COC Board Chair Heather McGhee; and others. Broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien will host the program.
Black history in the United States isn’t just a month or a school course. It’s foundational to the world around us, and non-negotiable for understanding who we are as a people and a country.
But it’s also the latest front in the right-wing war on progress.
Attacks against Black history have been unfolding across the country – from conservative backlash to Nikole Hannah-Jones’ groundbreaking “The 1619 Project” and several states signing into law restrictions on teaching racial history to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban of an Advanced Placement African American Studies course.
Whether they call it “Critical Race Theory,” “divisive concepts” or African American studies, the people trying to ban our history share the same goal: They don’t want white children to hear Black stories or learn accurate, honest history. Why? Because when you teach the truth about our past and present, you teach tolerance and love, which bring us that much closer to achieving racial equality and justice.
So how do we fight back? We celebrate Black history and its champions — not just during Black History Month, but every day.
For every anti-CRT school board member, there’s a storyteller whose children’s book was banned from local libraries. For every hateful right-wing politician, there’s an educator speaking truth to power in their classroom. For every pundit spreading misinformation, there’s an advocate fighting the fight every single day for racial equity and justice.
We hope you’ll join us on Monday, Feb. 27, and watch Color Of Change’s Black History Now Awards program uplifting our outstanding awardees and celebrating Black history.