Did you know?
The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
– source
SDARJ African American Achievement Award at Sussex Consortium
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ) recently honored Jaden Jackson and Pastor Purnell, students at Sussex Consortium.
Lynsy Gruwell, Jaden Jackson’s teacher, said that Jaden is always cheerful and friendly. He says hello to almost everyone he sees. Whenever a classmate or staff member is absent, Jaden is the first to notice and to ask about them. Jaden is an intelligent reader and enjoys volunteering this year at Bethany Blues, Midway Fitness, Dolle’s, and Beebe Hospital. Jaden is a pleasure to have in class and his peers are lucky to have him as a friend.
Eva Schmitt-Robbins, Pastor Purnell’s teacher, said that Pastor is an enthusiastic student who is at his best when he is busy. He often volunteers to help in the school building by completing extra daily living tasks and domestic chores. Pastor enjoys cooking for himself at lunch time and is a highly motivated and capable worker at all vocational training sites. He is friendly, funny, and kind and his company and sense of humor are a welcome addition to the team. Pastor is a pleasure to have in class.
Accompanied by school staff, Jaden and Pastor were honored in a ceremony at the school, and each received a $20 gift card from SDARJ.
SDARJ initiated the African American Achievement award to recognize students who represent the ideals of leadership, effort, and excellence in their schools. Students from each school in the Cape Henlopen and Indian River School Districts are recognized throughout the school year. SDARJ is a nonpartisan organization that educates, informs, and advocates for racial justice, equality, and fair opportunity. For more information, go to sdarj.org.
EVENTS Join us for events this month!
2025 Black History Month
SDARJ February Town Hall Celebrates Black History
SDARJ Book and Film Group – One Night in Miami (film)
INFORMATION Shop, donate, volunteer, or be an advocate!
Visit Black Owned Businesses
Volunteer Opportunities
Donate and shop
Read our magazine
RESOURCES for School and Community Work
Our team is curating lists of resources and links to helpful sites as you complete homework assignments or collaborate with others in the community on projects that teach and inform about racism. The work is ongoing, and we hope you find it helpful. If you have recommendations, we welcome them.
For the complete Middle School, High School, and College Reading/Audio/Visual Lists click here.
THE THEME
When Carter G. Woodson established Negro History week in 1926, he realized the importance of providing a theme to focus the attention of the public. The intention has never been to dictate or limit the exploration of the Black experience, but to bring to the public’s attention important developments that merit emphasis.
See the themes from previous years.
2022 THEME
2022- Black Health and Wellness
The theme for 2022 focuses on the importance of Black Health and Wellness. This theme acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birth-workers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well.
In order to foster good health and wellness Black people have embarked on self-determination, mutual aid and social support initiatives to build hospitals, medical and nursing schools (i.e. Meharry Medical College, Howard University College of Medicine, Provident Hospital and Training School, Morehouse School of Medicine, etc.) and community clinics. Clinics were established by individuals, grassroots organizations and mutual aid societies, such as the African Union Society, National Association of Colored Women and Black Panther Party, to provide spaces for Black people to counter the economic and health disparities and discrimination that are found at mainstream institutions. These disparities and anti-Blackness led to communities developing phrases such as “When white folks catch a cold, Black folks get pneumonia.” Initiatives to help decrease disparities have centered several outcomes, including having more diverse practitioners and representation in all segments of the medical and health programs including such as the Ronald E. McNair Scholars. Even the impact of popular culture texts like Doc McStuffins cannot be dismissed.
The rise of fields, such as Public and Community Health and Health Informatics have led to a rise in preventive care and a focus on body positivity, physical exercise, nutrition, exploring other dietary options such as veganism and vegetarianism, and gardening. Black Health and Wellness not only includes one’s physical body, but also emotional and mental health. At this point in the 21st century, our understanding of Black health and wellness is broader and more nuanced than ever. Social media and podcasts, such as The Read, hosted by Crissle and Kid Fury have normalized talking about mental health and going to therapy as well as initiatives such as Therapy for Black Girls. More of us understand the need to hold down, lift up, center, and fight fiercely for our beloved trans siblings and family. Black girls are doing breathwork, and there are whole yoga studios dedicated to people of color.
Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently has been observed in Ireland, and the United Kingdom. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, while in Ireland, and the United Kingdom it is observed in October.
