As February comes to a close, we’re reminded that Black History Month is more than a calendar observance. It is an invitation; to learn, to reflect, and to recognize the enduring leadership, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans in our communities and across the country.
Here are just a couple meaningful ways to honor Black History all year long.
1. Support Black-owned businesses
One way to honor Black history in Minnesota is by supporting local Black entrepreneurs. Explore directories like the Minnesota Black-Owned Business Directory or the MSR Black Business Directory to find shops, restaurants, and services across the state.
2. Learn about organizations that serve BIPOC communities
There are hundreds of Minnesota nonprofits primarily serving Communities of Color. Explore the searchable index of created by Minnesota Council of Nonprofits in partnership with organizations and sector leaders who identify as, or primarily serving BIPOC communities, to generate the core of a new platform called the BIPOC Nonprofits Index, a compilation of public information on hundreds of nonprofit organizations and informal groups whose primary mission is serving or advocating for BIPOC communities in Minnesota.
3. Read literature by Black authors
Check out Black Garnet Books, Black-owned bookstore in St. Paul, which was founded to address inequality. The shelves are curated to focus on literature by authors and illustrators of color, ensuring that any purchase made at the store directly supports the continued telling of the stories of People of Color. All books and merchandise are sold at fair prices that honor the craft and energy required to create art and sustain our community and industry.. It’s a great way to connect with history, culture, and diverse perspectives.
Daily Work’s February Equity Chat featured the novel The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Bennett is a contemporary American novelist known for exploring themes of race, identity, family, and belonging. The Vanishing Half tells the story of twin sisters who grow up in a small Southern Black community but choose very different paths as adults — one remaining within her community, the other passing as white. The novel invites reflection on identity, colorism, systemic racism, and the lasting impact of the choices we make.
4. Learn about local leaders and history
Black history is deeply rooted here in Minnesota. African American leaders across our state have shaped public policy, advanced civil rights, strengthened journalism, and built lasting cultural institutions that continue to influence our communities today.
Leaders such as Josie Johnson, a lifelong advocate for racial equity in education and public life; Melvin Carter, Saint Paul’s first African American mayor; and Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s first African American statewide elected official, have helped shape the civic landscape of our state.
In the arts, Lou Bellamy and the Penumbra Theatre Company have elevated African American stories and voices for decades. In journalism, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is the oldest Black-owned newspaper in Minnesota and one of the longest continuously operated family-owned Black newspapers in the United States.
Black leadership has helped build the Minnesota we know today, shaping our communities, policies, and shared future.
At Daily Work, we see how leadership, resilience, and talent exist in every community. Honoring Black History Month means celebrating achievement while also committing to removing systemic barriers that still shape access to opportunity today. Recognition months call us to be intentional, not only in learning about the past, but in shaping a more equitable future.
