Be Brave, Go Deep, Grow: Honoring Our Black HERstory Month 2022

This February, as we celebrate Black History Month, let’s shine an intentional light on the resilience, courage and contributions of Black women, femmes and girls.

The Struggle for Equality

For too long, Black women have had to fight against racism, sexism and other barriers to achieving equality and having their voices heard. From trailblazers like Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells and Fannie Lou Hamer to modern day changemakers like Michelle Obama, Stacey Abrams and Amanda Gorman – Black women have led movements, broken down doors and inspired future generations through their activism, art and leadership.

Choose Compassion Over Judgment

This month, may we open our minds to learn more about the diverse experiences of Black women, reject stereotypes that limit them, and meet difficult stories with compassion instead of judgment.

Lift Up HERstory

Let’s celebrate the inventors, authors, scientists, entrepreneurs and community leaders who have made indelible and often overlooked contributions throughout history. And importantly, let’s make space for the next generation of history makers to share their talents with the world.

Take Action for Justice

While we honor the strides that have been made, we must also acknowledge the work still left to do. This month and beyond, we can show up as allies by speaking out against injustice, donating to organizations making a difference, and most importantly – listening.

Find Unity Through Shared Humanity

In these divided times, we must cling ever closer to the truth that – regardless of our race, gender or background – we all share the common bonds of joy and suffering, courage and fear. As we celebrate Black HERstory month, may we find strength in unity through our shared humanity.

The Intellectual Architecture of Black Feminism and Intersectionality

To truly go deep into Black HERstory, we must examine the intellectual frameworks that allow us to understand the layered experiences of Black women. While the existing narrative often focuses on individual acts of bravery, the philosophical foundations laid by Black women thinkers provide the essential map for modern justice. The term “intersectionality,” coined by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, remains one of the most critical tools in this endeavor. It isn’t just a buzzword; it is a lens through which we see how race, gender, class, and ability overlap to create unique modes of discrimination. For instance, when we look at the history of the suffrage movement, an intersectional lens reveals that while white women were fighting for the vote, Black women like Mary Church Terrell were simultaneously fighting against lynching and Jim Crow laws, recognizing that their liberation could not be parsed into separate categories.

Going deeper means studying the Combahee River Collective Statement of 1977. This group of Black lesbian feminists articulated a vision of liberation that remains radical today. They argued that if Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free, since their freedom would necessitate the destruction of all systems of oppression. This is a crucial edge case in history: the recognition that the most marginalized voices often hold the key to universal liberation. When we study these texts, we move beyond mere celebration and into a space of rigorous intellectual growth. We begin to understand that Black HERstory is not just a collection of “firsts”—the first Black woman to do X or Y—but a continuous evolution of political and social thought that challenges the very foundations of Western power structures.

The Unseen Labors in STEM and the Digital Frontier

While history books are beginning to include the “Hidden Figures” of NASA, the contributions of Black women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) extend far into the shadows of the past and the cutting edge of the future. Consider Alice Ball, a pharmaceutical chemist who, in the early 20th century, developed the “Ball Method,” the most effective treatment for leprosy until the 1940s. Her work was stolen and credited to a white male colleague for years before her legacy was reclaimed. This pattern of erasure is a recurring theme in HERstory that requires active bravery to correct. It’s not enough to mention her name; we must analyze the systemic barriers that allowed her intellectual property to be co-opted, which mirrors the modern struggle for Black women in tech today.

In the contemporary digital landscape, Black women are the architects of social media culture and digital activism, yet they often face the highest rates of online harassment and algorithmic bias. The creation of the #BlackLivesMatter movement by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi is a prime example of how Black women utilize digital tools to organize global shifts in consciousness. However, an edge case often overlooked is the work of Dr. Timnit Gebru and Joy Buolamwini, who have exposed how facial recognition technology and AI are encoded with racial and gender biases. Their bravery in challenging tech giants like Google and Amazon highlights a modern frontier of HERstory: the fight for algorithmic justice. Supporting Black HERstory in this context means advocating for data privacy laws that protect Black women and supporting organizations like Black Girls Code, which ensure the next generation is not just using technology, but building it.

Radical Self-Care as a Political Act of Resistance

The title of our celebration calls us to “Grow,” and for Black women, growth often requires the radical act of self-care. Audre Lorde famously wrote, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” To understand this deeply, we must acknowledge the “Strong Black Woman” trope—a cultural expectation that Black women must be infinitely resilient, selfless, and stoic in the face of trauma. While intended as a compliment, this stereotype can be a prison, leading to higher rates of stress-related illnesses and mental health challenges. Honoring HERstory means honoring the right of Black women to rest, to be vulnerable, and to seek healing.

This growth involves deconstructing the historical “Mammy” archetype, which relegated Black women to the role of perpetual caregivers for others at the expense of themselves. Practical application of this principle looks like supporting Black-led mental health initiatives, such as Therapy for Black Girls, and recognizing the importance of “rest as resistance,” a concept popularized by Tricia Hersey of The Nap Ministry. In our communities and workplaces, we must move beyond asking Black women to lead every diversity committee or solve every systemic problem. True allyship involves creating environments where Black women can thrive without having to be “superhuman.” It means acknowledging the specific medical gaslighting Black women face in healthcare systems—particularly in maternal health—and fighting for a world where their physical and emotional well-being is prioritized.

Economic Sovereignty and the Power of the Black Dollar

A vital but often missing angle in the discussion of Black HERstory is the pursuit of economic sovereignty. Black women are currently the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States, yet they receive less than 1% of venture capital funding. This disparity is a modern echo of historical “Black Codes” and redlining that sought to prevent Black wealth accumulation. Growing through HERstory requires us to look at the legacy of Maggie Lena Walker, the first African American woman to charter a bank and serve as its president. Walker understood that financial independence was the bedrock of political power. She famously said, “Let us put our moneys together… let us have a bank that will take the nickels and turn them into dollars.”

Today, this legacy continues through the “Buy Black” movement and the rise of Black-owned beauty and fashion empires that have forced the global market to recognize the value of Black consumers. However, an edge case here is the “glass cliff” phenomenon, where Black women are often appointed to leadership roles during times of crisis when the chance of failure is highest. To support Black women’s economic growth, we must move beyond performative support. This involves institutional changes: demanding that banks increase lending to Black female founders, supporting legislation like the CROWN Act to prevent hair discrimination in the workplace (which impacts economic mobility), and ensuring that Black women are compensated fairly—addressing the fact that Black women typically earn significantly less than both white men and white women for the same work.

Environmental Justice and the Guardians of the Land

Black HERstory is also deeply rooted in the land and the fight for environmental justice. This angle is often omitted from mainstream environmentalism, which has historically been white-dominated. From the enslaved women who hid seeds in their hair to preserve their agricultural heritage during the Middle Passage, to modern activists fighting environmental racism, Black women have been the guardians of our ecology. Catherine Coleman Flowers, a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, has brought international attention to the failure of water and sanitation infrastructure in rural Black communities in the American South. Her work highlights the intersection of poverty, race, and climate change, demonstrating that the right to clean water is a fundamental HERstory issue.

Furthermore, the movement for food sovereignty is being led by Black women like Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm. They are reclaiming the relationship between Black people and the earth, moving away from the trauma of forced agricultural labor toward a model of healing and sustainability. This “Deep” exploration of history reminds us that Black women’s activism is not just about social policy, but about the very survival of the planet. When we discuss climate change, we must center the voices of Black women from the Global South and the African Diaspora, who are disproportionately affected by climate disasters. Supporting this work means donating to land trusts that return property to Black farmers and advocating for policies that address “food deserts” in urban centers, ensuring that Black girls have access to the nutrition they need to grow into the leaders of tomorrow.

The Intersection of Art, Afrofuturism, and Reimagining the Future

Art has always been the heartbeat of Black HERstory, serving as both a record of struggle and a blueprint for the future. While we celebrate the poets and novelists of the past, we must also look at the rise of Afrofuturism—a cultural aesthetic that combines science fiction, history, and fantasy to explore the African-American experience. Artists like Janelle Monáe and authors like N.K. Jemisin are not just creating entertainment; they are performing a “Deep” work of reimagining what is possible for Black women. They break the chains of historical trauma by envisioning worlds where Black women are the protagonists of cosmic journeys and the architects of advanced civilizations.

This creative bravery is essential because it allows Black girls to see themselves in the future, not just as survivors of the past. In the practical realm, this means supporting Black women in the arts through grants, museum representation, and purchasing their work directly. It also involves recognizing the role of Black women in the “Creator Economy,” where they often set global trends in music, dance, and fashion, only to see those trends monetized by others. Protecting the intellectual and creative property of Black women is a modern justice issue. When we amplify Black HERstory through art, we are participating in a tradition of “speculative resistance”—the idea that imagining a better world is the first step toward building it. This is where the “Brave” aspect of our theme truly shines: having the courage to dream in a world that often tries to limit Black women’s horizons.

Cultivating Intergenerational Sisterhood and Legacy

The final pillar of growing through Black HERstory is the cultivation of intentional, intergenerational mentorship. The concept of “Lift as we climb,” popularized by Mary Church Terrell and the National Association of Colored Women, remains the gold standard for Black female leadership. This isn’t just about a senior executive helping a junior one; it’s about a spiritual and cultural transfer of wisdom that has sustained Black communities for centuries. We see this in the “kitchen table politics” where grandmothers passed down survival strategies and stories of resilience to their granddaughters. In a modern context, this requires us to create formal and informal spaces for Black women of different ages to connect and share experiences.

An often-overlooked edge case is the need for mentorship that includes Black queer and trans women, ensuring that the “HERstory” we celebrate is truly inclusive of all who identify with the experience of womanhood. Legacy building also involves the tedious but necessary work of archiving. Many stories of Black women are lost because they weren’t deemed “important” by traditional historians. We can take action by supporting oral history projects, digitizing family records, and ensuring that local Black women leaders are recognized in our community centers and schools. By documenting the “Deep” and diverse stories of Black women today, we ensure that the “Grow” part of our theme is a continuous cycle, providing a rich soil of knowledge for the history makers of 2050 and beyond. This is the ultimate act of bravery: building a bridge to a future we may not see, but one that we know will be stronger because of the foundations we lay today.

FAQ

What is Black HERstory Month?

Black HERstory Month is a celebration during February that intentionally focuses on the experiences, contributions and resilience specifically of Black women throughout American history.

Why do we need it in addition to Black History Month?

While Black History Month celebrates all Black Americans, Black HERstory Month lifts up the unique barriers Black women have had to overcome due to both racism AND sexism over the generations.

When did Black HERstory Month originate?

Black HERstory Month grew out of the Black feminist movement as a way to reclaim and highlight how Black women have shaped our history and culture.

Who can participate?

Everyone! This celebration provides a special opportunity for all people to learn more about Black women’s experiences, hear their voices, and gain inspiration from their stories.

What can I do for Black HERstory Month?

There are many ways to get involved this month from reading books and watching films made by Black women, to supporting Black women-owned businesses, donating to nonprofits advancing equity, and amplifying Black women’s voices on social media.