Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Here, we’ll be sharing a brief history lesson on why Black History Month is celebrated, how Equilibria is celebrating, and where you can spend your dollars this month and beyond to support Black owned businesses, organizations, and authors.

 

Black History Month: How Equilibria Is Celebrating

 

Why is Black History Month Celebrated?

Originally, Black History Month was a way of teaching people about Black and African-Americans’ contributions, which were often forgotten or neglected as part of history. Today, Black History Month is an opportunity to understand Black histories, going beyond stories of racism and slavery to spotlight Black achievement.

 

Black History Month at EQ

All month long on our Instagram (follow us here) we will be highlighting Black history and specifically trailblazing Black women. Additionally, every member of the EQ team was provided $100 to spend at a Black-owned business or organization. Below are some of the team’s favorites!

 

Our team’s favorite Black owned businesses 

The Silver Room – jewelry and community hub

SustainAble Home Goods – Home goods

Golde – Wellness supplements

Bon Femmes – Art, home goods & more

KNC Beauty – Lip care and eye patches 

Tori Rerick – Healer and oracle deck 

Semicolon Bookstore – Bookstore & Gallery space.
Telfar – Fashion

Plant Salon – Curated plants and home goods

18•21 Bitters – Cocktail mixers

Love Cork Screw – Wine
The Vintage Royalty – Jewelry

KAHAWA! – Coffee

Scent and Fire – Eco-Luxe Candles 

Tubby’s Taste – Vegan Treats

Justice of the Pies – Pie

Greer Chicago – Stationary

Funky Mello – Vegan, Gluten-free Marshmallow spreads

 

Our team’s favorite Black organizations

Black Girl Ventures – Supporting Black and Brown women entrepreneurs through pitch competitions across the US. Read more about our partnership here.

My Block, My Hood, My City – Chicago-based organization helping to inspire youth, empower communities, and build a better world one block at a time

Black Girl’s Movement – Bridging the gap in STEM education & resources for black girls

 

Our team’s favorite Black authors

Here’s your reminder to take a look at your ‘to-read’ list and make sure it features Black voices and stories – not just this month, but throughout the year!

 

Children’s Books:

• Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
• Little Leaders Bold Women in Black History by Vashiti Harrison
• I Am Enough by Grace Byers
• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
• The 1619 Project: Born On The Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Renée Watson, Nikkolas Smith

Young Adult Books

 

• • Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney
  • Raybearer  by Jordan Ifueko
  • Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters
  • Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
  • Love is a Revolution by Renée Watson
  • Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant
  • Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

 

 

Adult Books 

• • The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones
  • Kindred by Octavia Butler
  • With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
  • The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
  • The Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
  • Beloved by Toni Morrison
  • Very Fat, Very Brave by Nicole Byer
  • Becoming by Michelle Obama
  • They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib
  • Americanah, Dear Ijeawele, Half of a Yellow Sun & Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie