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Why do we celebrate? 

Historically, Black History and the contributions of Black People in the US have not been included in school curriculum. Black History month was created in 1976 to focus national attention on the many contributions of Black Americans to United States history and has been celebrated ever since.  

How do we celebrate? 

There are so many ways to celebrate Black history, whether that’s watching a new show, reading a new book and discussing it with friends, or even attending a local event highlighting the impact of the African Diaspora in Boston! While reflecting on the many accomplishments of Black individuals in industries like science and technology, literature, economics, music, politics and so much more, it’s important to pay attention to these figures year round and highlight their stories and their successes, while not ignoring the struggles they faced. How will you celebrate? 

Books 

Boston Public Library released a book list to share with children, teens, and adults to celebrate Black History  

https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/list/share/2077606909_bostonpl_blackisbooklist/2244297689_bostonpl_black_is_2023_75_books_for_children,_teens,_adults 

Other notable titles you might want to check out include: 

Beloved by Tony Morrison 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker (Now a Major Motion Picture) 

Americanah by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie 

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler 

 

Shows and Movies 

Atlanta 

Underground 

Insecure 

Soul 

Judas and the Black Messiah 

The 1917 Project 

Dear White People 

 

Documentaries  

Summer of Soul 

Tony Morrison: Black Matters 

What Happened, Miss Simone? 

I Am Not Your Negro 

 

Events 

The Museum of Science is hosting a two day event celebrating Black History Month. There will be speakers, performances, and community groups from the Boston area in the Museum on February 10 and 11.  

Big Sister Boston is hosting a Big For a Day activity this weekend at the Museum! 

https://www.mos.org/public-events/black-history-month 

Black Owned Business Pop Up in Harvard Square on Friday Feb 9th and Saturday February 10th  

https://patch.com/massachusetts/cambridge/calendar/event/20240209/46ecd515-2d8b-47e1-89bf-9d2a31cd6594/black-history-month-black-business-pop-up-harvard-square-free 

 

Black Owned Restaurants 

https://bostonblackrestaurants.com/ 

Savvor Restaurant and Lounge 

M&M’s BBQ 

Country Kitchen 

Flames Caribbean Restaurant 

JP Roti Shop 

Island Style Jamaican Restaurant 

Fasika Restaurant 

The Coast Café 

Neighborhood Kitchen 

Wally’s Café & Jazz Club 

 

BLACK HISTORY BOSTON

Boston Black History Focused on Women & Youth

Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts: https://bwht.org/elma-lewis/

Women of education equality movement: https://medium.com/black-feminist-thought-2016/a-black-feminist-reimagining-of-boston-s-struggle-for-educational-equity-2d569979dcbb

Melnea Cass: https://blackwomenatbuandboston.wordpress.com/tag/melnea-cass/

Ruth Batson: https://www.boston.gov/news/black-history-boston-ruth-batson

Interview w/ Ruth Batson: http://digital.wustl.edu/e/eii/eiiweb/bat5427.0911.011ruthbatson.html

1970s school desegregation and busing: https://www.globalblackhistory.com/forgotten-history-desegregation-boston-public-schools/

and https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/03/the-boston-busing-crisis-was-never-intended-to-work/474264/ 

Combahee River Collective: https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/combahee-river-collective-1974-1980/ and https://www.boston.gov/news/black-history-boston-combahee-river-collective

Boston Coalition of Black Women, Inc.: https://repository.library.northeastern.edu/collections/neu:cj82qn781

 

 

LHM Website Banner2

 

HISPANIC & LATINX HERITAGE TRIVIA

Celebrates the contributions, history, and traditions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, South, and Central America

It is celebrated on September 15th since its the anniversary for Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on September 16th and September 18th respectively

Columbus Day or Día de la Raza falls on October 12th

Hispanic heritage week started to be celebrated in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson and was lengthened to 30 days under President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

As of 2022, 18% of the population in the US is Hispanic or Latinx meaning there are 60 million Hispanic or Latinx people in the US

Mexicans compromised 62% of the population of Hispanic and Latinx people in the US, followed by Puerto Ricans and Cubans

Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAXspOswDSI

READING LIST

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel  Garcia Marquez

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Violeta by Isabel Allende

Sanctuary by Paola Mendoza

The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende

The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo

Finding Latinx: In search of the voices redefining Latino identity by Paola Ramos

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

Child of the Dark by Maria Carolina de Jesus

Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges

TV & MOVIES

Selena: the Series

Jane the Virgin

One Day at a Time

Rebelde

La Casa de las Flores

Gentefied

Ugly Betty

Encanto

Coco

The Book of Life

Spanglish

Frida

The Edge of Democracy

Aquarius

Queer Eye: Brazil

BOSTON RESTAURANTS

La Neta Taqueria on Newbury St, (Mexican)

Orinoco (Venezuelan)

El Centro Mexican Bar (Mexican)

Casa Romero (Mexican)

Muqueca Restaurant (Brazilian)

La Hacienda (Mexican & Salvadoran)

El Penol (Colombian)

Vejigantes (Puerto Rican)

La Fabrica (Spanish Caribbean)

Doña Habana Restaurant (Cuban)

Merengue – check out the Big Sister Boston mural on the exterior wall! (Dominican)

Mariel (Cuban)

Lolita Mexican (Mexican)

Mi Pueblito Restaurant (Mexican & Central American)

 

 

Pride.Juneteenth banner for website2

PRIDE

EVENTS

Museum of Science: Free Admission for Pride Month

Pride Month is an annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. During June, the Museum welcomes a series of guest speakers to our stages. And on every Saturday and Sunday throughout the month, admission to the Museum is FREE!

Get Tickets Here

Free Admission with Promo code: Pride23

June 10th 11:00 AM   Boston Pride Parade & Festival

https://www.calendarwiz.com/calendars/popup.php?op=view&id=167410683&crd=bigsisterboston#

June 3rd Waltham Pride Festival

https://www.walthampride.org/events/pride2023 

 

READING LIST

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake

Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis

Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Pride Month : NPR

 

MUSIC

MIKA – No Place in Heaven

Frank Ocean – Channel Orange; Blonde

The Internet – Ego Death

Kehlani – While We Wait

Kali Uchis – Sin Miedo; Red Moon in Venus

BROCKHAMPTON – Saturation III

 

TV SHOWS

One Day at a Time – Netflix

A League of Their Own – Amazon Prime

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – Netflix, Apple TV

Pose – Hulu

Orphan Black – Amazon Prime

Sex Education – Netflix

 

MOVIES

Call Me By Your Name

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

But I’m a Cheerleader

Moonlight

Bodies Bodies Bodies

 

LGBTQIA+ HISTORY AND RESOURCES

The Trevor Project 

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Working With LGBTQ+ Youth and Families: Behavioral Health 

https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/diverse-populations/lgbtq/bh/

Women who shaped Boston’s LGBTQ community
http://bostonspiritmagazine.com/2020/01/celebrating-the-women-who-shaped-our-lgbtq-community-in-boston/

LGBTQ timeline of historical moments
GLSEN_LGBTQ_History_Timeline.pdf (facinghistory.org)

Support Group for Boston’s LGBTQ community
https://www.lgbtcenters.org/LGBTCenters/Center/6632/Boston-Alliance-of-Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual-and-Transgender

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/historical-lgbt-figures-activists-culture 

Pride – HISTORY

 

SUPPORT LGBTQIA+ BUSINESSES

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/reviewed/2021/05/27/pride-month-2021-brands-giving-back-lgbtq-community/7467685002/      

https://helloalice.com/blog/lgbtq-small-business-shopping

 

Juneteenth

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Passing The Torch – Honoring Roxbury Homecoming Committee @Franklin Park

https://www.instagram.com/p/CeMi5Snvcqn/?hl=en

City Of Boston

https://www.boston.gov/news/celebrating-juneteenth-city-boston

King Boston Embrace Festival

https://www.embraceideasfestival.org/

The Emancipator – A Juneteenth Event

https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/the-emancipator/events/

Juneteenth At The MFA

https://www.mfa.org/press-release/juneteenth-2022#:~:text=At%20the%20MFA%2C%20Juneteenth%20is,(January%2016%2C%202023).

City Of Brockton – African American Assoc Juneteenth Celebration

https://brockton.ma.us/event/african-american-association-juneteenth-celebration/

 

ALSO TAKING PLACE THIS MONTH

BAMS Fest

https://www.bamsfest.org/

Buy The Block 2 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CciJUZZO4PV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 The Colored Museum 

https://www.baystatebanner.com/bsb-event/the-colored-museum/

Life And Times Of Malcolm X 

https://www.baystatebanner.com/bsb-event/as-told-by-x-the-life-and-times-of-malcolm-x/

 

JUNETEENTH RESOURCES | ARTICLES

Articles

What Is Juneteenth – PBS (Originally published on The Root)

By Henry Louis Gates Jr.

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-is-juneteenth/

Juneteenth Reminds Us Just How Far We Have To Go

By Kate Musar

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/opinion/juneteenth-civil-rights.html

Black History Is American History: How Juneteenth Highlights the Necessity of Critical Race Theory and Anti-Racist Teaching

Eric Duncan – EdTrust

https://edtrust.org/the-equity-line/black-history-is-american-history-how-juneteenth-highlights-the-necessity-of-critical-race-theory-and-anti-racist-teaching/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=equityline&gclid=CjwKCAjw7vuUBhBUEiwAEdu2pCvTJ8XOe0UyI_RBG1iwI42ikh6WB0aDMdOupQL4PODvmLK0Pp4mEBoC5QAQAvD_BwE

History and Meaning of Juneteenth Flag

The Juneteenth Flag: What the Juneteenth Colors and Symbols Mean (rd.com)

Resources 

Boys and Girls Club Parent Guide

https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2022/May/what-is-juneteenth-information-for-kids-and-families?gclid=CjwKCAjw7vuUBhBUEiwAEdu2pHubs9VFLxBdQZG8jQf9fE5svFefe5-l3_vc2tLiOKiFHZsd9L1TxBoCYkMQAvD_BwE

Teach For America

https://www.teachforamerica.org/celebrate-juneteenth

The Juneteenth Foundation

https://thejuneteenthfoundation.com/

Black Heritage Trail NH

https://blackheritagetrailnh.org/2021-juneteenth-celebration/?gclid=CjwKCAjw7vuUBhBUEiwAEdu2pOl2_EKCFoTQB9_7WHRDwzRlvxXBjE5hvABBAhHRHZLbBpWfqu22lBoC8ugQAvD_BwE

Videos | YouTube

Stories of Juneteenth: A Conversation with Ms. Opal Lee

https://youtu.be/JlbH5xq6w7c

King Boston: 1 Night In Boston (2021 Juneteenth Commemoration)

https://kingboston.org/one-night-in-boston-the-film/

This Is Why Juneteenth Is Important for America – YouTube

The Root

https://youtu.be/iu6ntwHws5g

  

 

 

We’ve created this resource page to continue to Educate & Engage each other during the Heritage & History Months our Big Sister Boston community celebrates. Please note that the list below will be updated throughout 2023 to reflect current events and additional resources.

We hope to inspire both action and dialogue by sharing some of the amazing and impactful work and experiences from educators and schools; from community and partnership relationships; and, from programming and events featured on local and national educational and entertainment platforms.  

We invite our community to share and suggest your own resources or experiential learning opportunities, so we can add them and can continue to learn and grow together!  

Join the conversation: send your suggested resources to Michelle at mdixon@bigsister.org.

AAPI Heritage Month Web

EVENTS

AAPI Women in Government – May 18th 2023

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aapi-women-in-government-tickets-622612399447?aff=eprofsaved

2nd Annual AAPI Heritage Festival, – May 20th, 2023

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-aapi-heritage-festival-may-20-2023-tickets-606765330437?aff=eprofsaved

R. F. Kuang at First Parish Church Tue – May 23rd, 6:00 PM

First Parish Church, Cambridge

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/r-f-kuang-at-first-parish-church-tickets-559527420577?aff=eprofsaved

BAGLY AAPI Heritage Night – May 24th

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bagly-aapi-heritage-night-tickets-617329728837?aff=eprofsaved

READING LIST

House of Sticks – Ly Tran

Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now – Jeff Yang, Phil Yu and Philip Wang

Asian American Dreams – Helen Zia

Minor Feelings – Cathy Park Hong

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Ocean Vuong

Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan

Beautiful Country – Qian Julie Wang

Last Night At The Telegraph Club – Malinda Lo

“The Mountains Sing” – Que Mai Nguyen Phan

Somewhere Inside – Lisa and Laura Ling

ARTICLES

Angry Asian Man:  http://blog.angryasianman.com/

What A Bad Day Means to Me – Ly Tran: https://www.vogue.com/article/ly-tran-bad-day

Mochi Magazine: https://www.mochimag.com/

WEBSITE

https://www.asianpacificheritage.gov/

 

 

 

 

NativeAmericanHeritage banner for website2

 Native American Heritage Month or
American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. 

Native American Heritage Month first evolved from “American Indian Week,” which President Reagan proclaimed on the week of November 23-30, 1986. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 as National American Indian Heritage Month. It was later changed to Native American Heritage month under President Barack Obama.  

The U.S. government officially recognizes 574 Indian tribes in the contiguous 48 states and Alaska. Indigenous peoples are also referred to as First peoples and First nations. The term Indigenous was first, in its modern context, used by Europeans, who used it to differentiate the Indigenous peoples of the Americas from the European settlers of the Americas and from the Africans who were brought to the Americas. 

The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.   

How to Support on Social Media: 

 

Indigenous Specific Nonprofits: 

Indigenous led nonprofits List 

Native Americans in Philanthropy — educates & lifts up Native peoples to create healthy and sustainable communities 

Return to the Heart Foundation — tackles climate justice, civic engagement, narrative change, and restorative & regenerative development 

National Congress of American Indians 

Native Wellness Institute – promote the well-being of Native people through programs and trainings that embrace the teachings and traditions of our ancestors 

First Nations Women’s Alliance – mission is to strengthen Tribal communities by creating a forum for leaders to come together to address the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault. provides culturally relevant services and resources and facilitating the provision of those services by others in communities. 

Additional Organizations: 

Illuminative – build power for Native peoples by amplifying contemporary Native voices, stories, and issues to advance justice, equity, and self-determination 

Mass Center for Native American Awareness – preserve Native American cultural traditions; to assist Native American residents with basic needs and educational expenses; to advance public knowledge and understanding that helps dispel inaccurate information about Native Americans; and to work towards racial equality by addressing inequities across the region. 

The North American Indian Center of Boston – provide a wide range of cultural, social, educational, and professional services to Native peoples in the Commonwealth 

Reading List: 

5 books w/ indigenous futures 

28 New books 

Musuems with Native American Exhibits: 

Artists to Discover: 

What to Watch: 

Women Leaders to Learn More About: 

More Resources to Honor Native American Heritage: