This year’s Black History Month arrived at an unprecedented time, with our first black president having been replaced by a man who outwardly questioned his citizenship for years, a man who also recently picked bones with a prominent civil rights leader who happens to be the last living speaker from the March on Washington.
At the same time, the month also follows awards for films such as Hidden Figures, Moonlight, and Fences, showcasing the importance of sharing black stories and history.
It’s a complicated moment in history, to say the least. Amid the circumstances, black politicians, activists, writers, and entertainment icons ushered in the country’s first post-Barack Obama era Black History Month with tweets of celebration, humor, and remembrance.
OTD: 4 students from NC A&T College started Sit-in movement in #Greensboro. By Feb. 10 it spread to 15 southern cities. #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/dneXNmxKih
— Lee 🏳️🌈🇺🇸 (@GeorgiaDawgs26) February 1, 2017
I love my blackness. And yours. #BlackHistoryMonth
— deray (@deray) February 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/ava/status/826808640996728832
It’s February 1st, and I pay tribute to my foremothers: Harriet, Zora, Marsha and Audre. #blackhistorymonth pic.twitter.com/mR3lDXB164
— Janet Mock (@janetmock) February 1, 2017
Shoutout to the people who grew up like me where as far as their parents were concerned EVERY MONTH WAS #BlackHistoryMonth!✊ pic.twitter.com/QjYolGBcFC
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) February 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/nhannahjones/status/826776243848757248
https://twitter.com/ira/status/826792283131478017
Here’s today’s Daily GIF! pic.twitter.com/MTVWoFpanf
— Daily GIF (@dailygif) February 1, 2017
It’s the first day of #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/U0VxaAYvgD
— Trey Mangum (@treymangum) February 1, 2017
Stepped into February like… #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/ldydVhzYVN
— xoNecole (@xonecole) February 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/owillis/status/826662677489577984
https://twitter.com/freeblackgirl/status/826864208583225344
The best #blackhistorymonth ever idc idc idc! Don’t @ me!
— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) February 1, 2017
#BlackHistoryMonth is so fuckin LIT!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/YcGUjGLMY8— Gabby Sidibe (@GabbySidibe) February 1, 2017
On 1st day of #BlackHistoryMonth, GOP Senators on Judiciary voted unanimously for Jeff Sessions’ AG nomination. This is a slap in the face.
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) February 1, 2017
President Trump: if you truly want to honor #BlackHistoryMonth, you should start by apologizing to civil rights hero @repjohnlewis.
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) February 1, 2017
A not so gentle reminder as we roll into the first #BlackHistoryMonth in Trump’s America: pic.twitter.com/F7MfvGSPi7
— Charles PM (@CharlesPulliam) February 1, 2017
Since tomorrow is #BlackHistoryMonth I’m walking in the studio in the morning like: pic.twitter.com/ni4RDtXOG6
— Loni Love (@LoniLove) February 1, 2017
Though Black History Month has sustained its Twitter trending topic status throughout the day, it’s this thread by Huffington Post front page editor Philip Lewis that’s already won Feb. 1.
Meme History thread: #BlackHistoryMonth edition
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Slavery (1619-1865) pic.twitter.com/BlvGzyFzYK
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Harriet Tubman (1849) pic.twitter.com/u9RQV6LTaa
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Jim Crow (1877-1965) pic.twitter.com/T0NkysDvkc
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Harlem Renaissance (1920s) pic.twitter.com/SvDgsjqkLz
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Rosa Parks (1955) pic.twitter.com/EDIvSSwloq
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Malcolm X (1956) pic.twitter.com/LPBQb18nK1
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Greensboro sit-ins (1960s) pic.twitter.com/4zvrl2Pozp
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Black Power (1960s) pic.twitter.com/wOco9FoLWO
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968) pic.twitter.com/NXvTsCbh4R
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Black Panthers (1966) pic.twitter.com/rTeSTCkHl3
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Barack Obama (2008) pic.twitter.com/GTzQ7o5AVA
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Black Lives Matter movement (2013-) pic.twitter.com/CLb092qBgR
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
Happy Black History Month, folks! Though, for the record, spending a month learning about the black American history that’s been written out of history books should just be the beginning.
