Who is Black History Month For?
We wondered what Black History Month means today, to Apt-122 collaborators—so we asked them!
Black history month originated in the United States as Douglass Day on February 14th, celebrating the life and work of Frederick Douglass, one of the most important civil and women’s rights icons of the nineteenth century. Dr Carter G Woodson, who trained at Harvard, wanted to continue this work with a focus on Black history, creating Negro History and Literature Week, alongside the Omega Psi Fraternity, the first of which took place in 1926 across the nation, coinciding with Douglass’s chosen birthday. It wasn’t until 1969 that students at Kent State University pushed for a Black History Month, first celebrated in 1970.
information gathered from the New York Times
We wondered what Black History Month means today, to Apt-122 collaborators—so we asked them!
Tanya Motsi, Experiential Designer
Who is Black History Month For?
Having grown up in Zimbabwe and South Africa, I saw "Black History Month" as an entirely American concept and any experience with it was always from a distant and foreign vantage point. It baffled me for a long time, and as a child I didn't understand why you would delineate Black history from history itself. I existed in an environment where history, politics and news were discussed from an entirely black perspective; it was the default in my home and community. I also didn't understand why you wouldn't have subsequent months dedicated to the various cultural groups that sit within such a broad category. For myself and my peers, our identities were strongly tied to our cultural lineage/tribes.
As I got older and had the privilege of living in different communities around the world, I still experienced Black History Month as a predominantly American practice and celebration, but I also saw the need for it to exist and expand to communities within America itself, and the world as a whole. While I had the luxury of growing up around Black scholars and revolutionaries, the depth and perspective of the knowledge I took for granted is so jarringly absent in many Black homes.
How does it make you feel?
Black history month always creates a mixed bag of emotions for me. There's the continual awe and excitement around the success and journeys of people who have shaped, and continue to shape the world we live in. There is frustration and anger around the reality of why these stories need to be uncovered and why they're absent from the "de facto" texts of history. There's also a feeling of alienation. So much of Black history month is still observed through a western lens. Having been an African in America, so much of my own culture, history and identity is absent and unknown to the people I've met. I do hope, however, that as we continue to rebuild and respond to the erasure of black communities and history, that the depth, variety and interconnectedness of what we celebrate increases.
How does Apt-122 make space for you?
Working under the Apt-122 umbrella has provided a much needed change to my life and career. Sadly, the experiential and events industries have little space for Black and brown faces, and the opportunities to work with teams and on projects that reflect and understand my own experience is depressingly rare.
There is a deep level of authenticity, humor and joy in the team and approach at Apt-122. There's no code switching, or watering down of experience, or opinion. I know that any inspiration pulled from my own background will be received with sincerity, and be holistically translated and represented in the work that we do. I know the boundaries and values I hold are reflected on an individual and agency level, and the level of relief that provides is comforting and empowering. Apt-122 creates a space for me to finally breathe.
Tachand Dubuisson, Experiential Producer
Who is Black History Month For?
This is such a Kanye West question. My real answer is I don’t know—it almost feels like a month long Hallmark holiday, diluted to some extent …. a capitalistic form of solidarity.
How does it make you feel?
On one hand I obviously believe in the continued work in bringing awareness to Black History. I believe celebrating our achievements/accomplishments is necessary.
But on the other hand, it almost feels like we’ve only scratched the surface each year and of course I’m speaking at a very high level— there are some very authentic circles but the masses just don’t seem to get it. There are so many Black Lives that we don't acknowledge whom I believe are influential to our present and past. It begs the question, do we control the narrative of our own month? Is this for us?
I’m such the skeptic.
How does Apt-122 make space for you?
This agency is deeply important because it makes space for me and for those that look like me.
As a freelancer, I personally didn't see any shifts in the industry come Black History Month. My fellow black and brown producers weren’t any more busy around this time of year than another. And brands continued to miss the mark, not hiring us and/or tokenizing black folk.
There are so many opportunities for improvement. I often think about how Apt-122 can hold ourselves accountable for the future and longevity of some of these issues. Industry-wise, we are very cognizant of the brands that make space for us. Brands who are really trying to push the needle and strategize with folks who are the culture— willing to do more than scratch the surface like talking about a bell hooks and Archbishop Tutu.
We only hope to help brands think about how inclusivity can be a part of their monthly conversations now and moving forward.
We’ll see you later @WeAreApt122