BLACK HISTORY MONTH: SOUL & SUBSTANCE

This Black History Month, we prioritized just being—immersing ourselves in all things culture, the archival, art, fashion, music, food, customs, tradition and scholarship. From the portrayal of everyday Black life by Amy Sherald’s American Sublime exhibit, Michael Veal’s jubilant jazz performance at Harlem’s Shrine, to the awe-inspiring Style is Forever exhibit honoring the late great Andre’ Leon Talley, we’re inspired.

In a time when Black history is being erased, it is with great intention that we embrace the tasks at hand of appreciating the history happening in the now, being present, living in the moment, being in community and capturing as much as possible of what will be heirlooms of our heritage.

As a Black creative and co-owner of a Black-owned business, I know none of what we do matters without the influence and impact of our heritage and history. Our presence in how we show up for one another as stewards of our culture is vital to the curation and narration of it for future generations.

And we don’t mean the corporate pandering, posturing, repurposing and repackaging of our culture only to sell it back to us while simultaneously working behind the scenes funding the campaigns and lobbying for legislation and legislators that have minimized and marginalized our communities for the sake of capitalism and corporate greed…We off that.

That said, here are our picks for celebrating more substantively this weekend as we close out Black History Month in D.C. as curated by the people and places that provide a haven for Blackness. Click the links below for more details and to RSVP. We hope to see you around.