And to think, it began with Stacey Dash suggesting we get rid of it.
A steady stream of indelible pop culture moments celebrating blackness has led some to proclaim February 2016 the best #BlackHistoryMonth ever, with a melanin rainbow fistbump emoji for emphasis.
Some might argue that pop culture moments are ephemeral and don’t have lasting value. Obviously, no event this month compares to the passage of the Voting Rights Act or other civil rights milestones that increased political or economic power for black people.
Even if we did not reach the absolute pinnacle of Black History Month, it’s been pretty memorable. Thoughts, emotions and experiences typically confined to the black community permeated mainstream America in unprecedented ways. And, it’s perfectly conceivable that people might be talking for decades about that time Beyoncé brought black militancy to the Super Bowl.
Here are some of the highlights:
#OscarsSoWhite comes to a head
Controversy over Hollywood’s lack of diversity erupted in January with the announcement of the Academy Award nominations, but the conversation continued well into February, casting a long shadow over the actual show on February 28. All eyes were on comedian Chris Rock to see how he would handle the subject as host, and he did not disappoint.
“You’re damn right Hollywood is racist. Hollywood is sorority racist,” he said, referring to how white industry power players politely exclude minorities from their projects. “But things are changing. We got a black Rocky this year. Some people call it ‘Creed.’ I call it ‘Black Rocky.’ “
The ceremony’s producers kept hammering the diversity issue throughout the telecast with mixed results. Dash’s appearance as “new Academy director of diversity outreach” fell flat, to say the least. On balance, a parody skit inserting Whoopi Goldberg, Leslie Jones and Tracey Morgan into some of the nominated movies was hilarious.
Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs drove the issue home be reaffirming the organization’s commitment to leveling the field.
“It’s not enough to just listen and agree,” she said. “We must take action.”
Beyoncé gets into ‘Formation’
Beyoncé’s self-affirming ode to her blackness inspired hot takes, long rants, even an “SNL” parody about “The Day Beyoncé Turned Black.” The lyrics to “Formation” alone might not have caused such an uproar, but the video, which references police brutality, Hurricane Katrina and black financial power, has been called her most politically charged work to date.
Some wondered why it took so long for the pop superstar to take up black politics in earnest, offering explanations like “Beyoncé waited until black politics was so undeniably commercial that she could make a market out of it.”
The haters were overshadowed by praise for the way she captured the breadth of black life.
As journalist Jenna Wortham wrote of the video, “… it’s the blackest of black. It’s not Pharrell’s new black (no shade!) — it’s your grandmother’s black. Her idea of swag is keeping hot sauce in her bag while she’s decked out in Givenchy. That’s baller, and that’s why the world slash Internet is going nuts. It’s a dab in a video form, playing on a loop; it’s phenomenally delicious.”
Then, the next day …
Coldplay may have been billed as the headlining act of the Super Bowl halftime show but everyone knew Beyoncé would steal the show — and she did not disappoint.
Social media exploded with black pride when she took to the field with dancers in Afros and berets, an apparent nod to the Black Panthers.
Viewers were quick to pick up on visual cues in her outfit, too: a military-inspired leather jacket over a black bodysuit and studded Christian Louboutin booties, which bore a strong resemblance to Michael Jackson’s halftime look in 1993.
Kendrick Lamar wins Grammy night
Less than a week later, another black performer lit up a nationally televised event with a politically charged performance conveying black pride.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar staged a theatrical performance at the 58th Grammy Awards on February 15, evoking the chains of slavery and incarceration along with black pride and a fiery condemnation of American injustice.
Lamar had the audience in his thrall and received a standing ovation. Coming on the heels of Beyoncé’s performance, it was enough for some to declare peak Black History Month. And, let’s not forget the moment Brittany Howard, a black woman, accepted the Grammy for best rock performance flanked by her Alabama Shakes bandmates.
‘Quantico’ actress takes red-carpet stand
Meanwhile, at the NAACP Image Awards on February 5, “Quantico” actress Aunjanue Ellis wore a white dress emblazoned with the phrase “Take It Down Mississippi,” a reference to ongoing debate over the state flag. Mississippi is the last in the country to incorporate the Confederate battle emblem and Ellis, a native Mississippian, has declared she won’t act in her home state until it changes.
Social media praised Ellis for taking a stand.
Jesse Owens biopic ‘Race’ hits theaters
With the anniversary of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin approaching, several movies are in the works chronicling the life of Olympic gold medalist track and field star Jesse Owens, who faced racism at home and abroad during his storied career.
The first of them came out this month, a biopic called “Race.” Lukewarm reviews notwithstanding, the film offers a glimpse of what many are asking for through #OscarsSoWhite: more films about black people offering a broader view of American history.
Speaking of American history, a film version of the story of the Nat Turner rebellion, “The Birth of a Nation,” sold for a record amount at the Sundance Film Festival, sparked a bidding war that ended with Fox Searchlight and parent studio Fox paying $17.5 million for worldwide rights to the pic. It’s a sign that Hollywood is casting a wider net, but the real test will come when the next season of nominations are announced.
Meet the new American Girl doll: Melody Ellison
Cynical folks might see a new African-American American Girl doll as pandering after the dollmaker was criticized for discontinuing two of four minority dolls in 2014. Or, it could be considered righting a wrong.
Melody Ellison is a 9-year-old growing up in Detroit during the 1960s civil rights era with dreams of becoming a singer. Social media cheered her arrival, the company’s third African-American doll, which will come with a series of books following her adventures during a pivotal time in American history.
As one person said on Twitter, “I think the American Girl doll Melody will make a beautiful birthday gift for my granddaughter when she turns 5 this August.”
Memorable moments from the White House
Say what you will about President Obama and the first lady, but there’s no denying they have a way with people.
A photo of him greeting a 3-year-old with a caress of the cheek touched hearts. The photo caption used by the White House on Twitter, tagged #BlackHistoryMonth, buttressed the image’s power: “Every child, no matter who they are, should have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.”
If that wasn’t enough to melt the iciest of hearts, a dance party involving the Obamas and a 106-year-old should do it. Virginia McLaurin simply could not contain her excitement when she showed up at the White House to visit the Obamas, taking their hands for something resembling “Ring around the Rosie.”
“I thought I would never live to get in the White House,” McLaurin said “And, I tell you, I am so happy to have a black president … a black wife, and I’m here to celebrate black history.”
“You have just made our day,” Michelle Obama responded.
Finally, President Obama said it best after an enthusiastic crowd member at a press conference called out “Hey, Michelle!”
“We know it is Black History Month when you hear someone say, ‘Hey, Michelle! Girl, you look so good.’ ”
And February isn’t over yet! Perhaps this leap year’s extra day will bring more seminal moments to add to the list.
