My holiday calendar looks a little different than most. January 1 is Haitian Independence Day, so I start the year off with a Black a$$ bang. MLK Day is just a few weeks later, giving me a reason to keep the momentum going (thanks, Coretta). Then it’s just a few more weeks before the BEST MONTH OF THE YEAR: February. Black History Month. Shoutout to Carter G. Woodson who created Negro History Week in 1926, which turned into Black History Month in the 1970s.

On February 1, 2024, I had the honor to again bring the community together with my dear friend and colleague, Dr. RL Watson. We actually started the day in a generative and fun meeting with our partners at the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff, brainstorming the 2 year grant we just received from the National Archive of the United States. The day ended with 100+ students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local community members to celebrate the start of Black History Month. We got to honor the work we do as 1 of 5 African American Studies departments in the state of Illinois and elevate our growing number of majors and minors. It was EPIC to say the least! Special thanks to Cheryl Judice, LFC alum and owner of Hecky’s BBQ for the delicious nourishment.

This event will fuel the rest of the work I will do this month to honor the Black folks who did it big and continue to. Here are a list of upcoming talks I will do this month:

Monday February 5, 7pm: A History of Hip Hop (Grayslake Public Library)
Saturday February 17, 6pm: Istwa: Night of Story Telling, in partnership with Hatienne and the Haitian American Professional Network (Bar Louie on Polk Ave)
Monday February 19, 7pm: Researching Haitian Heritage (virtual event hosted by Arlington Heights Library)
Wednesday 21, 6:30pm: DuSable: Chicago’s Black Father (Evanston Public Library)

Although it’s the shortest month of the year, I love Black History Month. I love being Black. I love that my Blackness is rooted in Haiti. I love that I am a 1st generation Black American woman. I love the Black family I will eventually have with my husband. I love Black people, culture, jokes, history, books, media and so much more. So celebrate with me, if you really love Black people too. We get an extra day this year, so let’s make it count :)

PS: My birthday is my other favorite holiday. If you know, you know #beyday