We‘re Black All Year Round, Not Just in February

Black History Month is not just a month-long celebration. Blackness extends far beyond February, Blackness is forever. By Asha Breedlove and edited by Manaswini Pillai

Valentine’s Day is not the only thing getting love in February.

February 1st through February 28th. To one part of the country this is just known as the month of February. To the other half of the country these dates are known as Black history month.

28 days out of a 365 day year is allocated to thousands upon thousands years worth of history. It seems as if during these 28 days is where you see big name corporations coming out with new products dedicated to something like Black hair or partnering with Black owned artists to bring a limited edition Black history clothing brand.

The thing is, by the end of those 28 days what once was a celebration of Black excellence was now gone. It goes under the face of just another marketing tool. Not only is it gone, but we as the consumer and Black people have to wait a whole other year just for this special limited edition outfit to come back out.

Let’s get real, it’s not as if these companies are going to put these items back up every other month. Maybe in June for Juneteenth. But that’s only just a day.

FUSION e-board members Asha Breedlove, Naomi Campbell, Taylore Palmer, and Kollin Washington photograped by Ruby Qu.

What happens after those 28 days end? Does our Blackness fade away like chalk on a rainy day? Does that boss who was so eager to hear our thoughts and ideas go back to calling us the one other Black person's name? Do the continuous micro aggressions return? Do the political climate conversations automatically go back to a familiar tune?

It’s crazy when you think about it. How can you limit centuries of beautiful history to just 28 days? Well the answer is, you can’t. Just because Black history month is set in the month of February does not mean that we will stop being any less Black.

We are just a little Blackity-Black in February.

The day we are brought into this Earth to the day we leave it, we are Black. When we walk into a room we are Black. When we are shopping in stores we are Black. When we are chilling with our families we are Black. When we are at our jobs we are Black.

Thank you to brother Carter G. Woodson for pioneering such an important month to the culture. You saw that our history needed to be recognized for all the contributions we have made to this country.

But just to set the record straight.. we’re Black all year round, not just in February. You can keep your limited edition and special time offers. We will continue to be Black all day… everyday. 24/7, 365 days of the year. Like the elders say, the only thing we have to do is stay Black and die.