As everyone is aware, February is Black History Month! The national theme for 2021 is The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity. A theme that hits home for many of the families we serve in our community. The black family has been a foundational piece in our nation since its beginning. This month we celebrate the achievements of African Americans and their integral role in the ongoing history of the United States and the world. As the saying goes, black history is American history. Here at Big Brothers Big Sisters, we’re celebrating this month by: highlighting black Omahan’s making history, bringing in Senator Terrell McKinney, engaging in meaningful conversations facilitated by our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, supporting black-owned businesses, and encouraging people to become mentors. We have dozens of children waiting for Big Brother, Big Sister or Big Couple ready for a new friendship - click HERE to get started!
What can you do this Black History Month?
Learn something new or insightful by watching a documentary/movie, listening to a podcast, reading a book, or do your own research about new & historical political figures, policies, or important events.
Suggestions
Documentaries/Movies:
Podcasts:
Books:
- How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Help support our locally black-owned restaurants who’ve been hit hard throughout the pandemic.
Black-Owned Restaurants:
- A Taste of New Orleans
- Best Burger
- Big Mama’s Kitchen & Catering
- Black Bottom Biscotti
- Cajun Kitchen
- Cake by the Pound at Ruby’s Place
- Caribbean Delights
- Chaima’s African Cuisine
- Crum Cakes Bakery
- Dripped + Draped
- Emery's Cafe
- Ethiopian Restaurant
- Fair Deal Grocery Store
- Get N Go Fish
- Huskerland Popcorn
- Jackson’s Takeout
- Jim’s Rib Haven
- Krab Kingz
- Lalibela Ethiopian Cuisine of Omaha
- Lonnell’s Southern Delight
- Lutfi’s Fried Fish
- Mixins Rolled Ice Cream
- Okra African Grill
- Quick Bites Soul Food
- Sapphire Grill
- Smoking Jay’s BBQ
- Soular Power Plate
- Still Poppin Gourmet Popcorn
- T. Marie’s
- The Cooler Sno-Balls
- The Cupcake Nerds, LLC
- Time Out Foods
- Wayne’s New Skoo BBQ
To look at more black-owned businesses in Omaha, click HERE.
For the workplace you can look at bringing in a speaker (author, activist, political figure, etc.), starting a book club, volunteering, donating, or collaborating with an organization impacting the lives of African Americans. However, you choose to celebrate BlackHistory Month, make sure it is meaningful to you.
