Black History Cannot Be Banned: We Celebrate Ourselves!

Black Joy! By Rev. Derek (Digital, Procreate)

Once again, it’s Black History Month, and once again, this country is showing us exactly why we still need it.
On one hand, Donald Trump signed a proclamation “celebrating” Black history. On the other, he issued an executive order banning Black History Month events in federal agencies, alongside MLK Day, Juneteenth, LGBTQ+ Pride, and any other so-called “special observances.”


​At the same time:

• Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Memo: The DIA issued a directive pausing all “special observances” and banning affinity groups and employee networking groups.
• DOJ Justification: The Justice Department (DOJ) claimed DEI programs "divided Americans by race" and were a "waste of taxpayer dollars."

So which is it?
​
Do you honor Black history, or do you erase it? Do you celebrate our contributions, or do you suppress the truth? The hypocrisy is loud, but the racism is even louder.
Some want to pretend that race is no longer an issue--as if 246 years of slavery, nearly 100 years of Jim Crow, and 50 years of mass incarceration, housing discrimination, and the war on drugs suddenly vanished overnight. Now, the powers that be are telling us to “move on”—to stop talking about race, to stop teaching our history, to stop acting like oppression is still happening.

But here’s the truth:
Racism was, is, and will continue to be a problem until we FIX IT.

Black history isn’t just about the past—it’s about the present and the future. It’s about our resilience, our brilliance, and our undeniable impact on every inch of this country. And we will not be erased.

So, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH—not because they acknowledge us, but because we acknowledge ourselves. Not because they allow it, but because we demand it.

What Can We Do?The erasure of Black history won’t stop unless we take action. If the government won’t celebrate us, we will celebrate ourselves. If they ban our history, we will teach it anyway.

For Churches:

• Stop being silent. Preach about Black liberation, justice, JOY, and resistance from the pulpit.
• Educate your congregation. Hold Bible studies or special sessions on Black theology, activism, and history.
• Use art and creativity. Highlight Black artists, musicians, and storytellers in worship services.
• Invest in Black businesses and initiatives. Partner with Black-led organizations working for racial justice.

For Communities:

• Support Black educators. Push back against book bans and curriculum restrictions.
• Host Black history events—at libraries, community centers, and even in homes. If they won’t teach it in schools, we’ll teach it ourselves.
• Amplify Black voices. Share our stories, art, and work year-round, not just in February.

For Individuals:

• Buy Black. Support Black businesses, artists, and authors--like my coloring book, Vibrant Voices!
• Speak up. Call out racism when you see it—at work, in schools, in churches, in government.
• Learn and unlearn. Dig deeper into the parts of Black history they don’t want you to know.

This fight isn’t new. Black history IS resistance. And we will keep telling our story--in spite of it all.​

-Rev. Derek 

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