Celebrating Black History: Love is Activism

This Black History Month, we’re shining a light on the powerful intersections of love and activism. Throughout the month, we’ve been exploring the relationships between key historical figures whose bonds not only shaped their lives but also left a lasting impact on Black history. We reflect on friendships, families, marriages and peaceful demonstrations of activism to explore the impact of love within each. In exploring friendship, we highlighted that of activist Angela Davis and editor Toni Morrison whose friendship formed out of the creation of Angela Davis: The Autobiography. Through Morrison’s writing and Davis’s story, together they produced a culturally shifting book detailing the experiences of Angela Davis and created an impactful friendship in the process that went on to last for years.

We explored the marriage between Henrietta and Harry T. Moore. The Moore’s started as two Florida school teachers. They eventually went on to become impactful activists in the civil rights movement. Harry T. Moore founded a Florida chapter of the NAACP and together they fought to advance equal rights in the South, housing equality, and remove barriers to voter registration. As result of their activism, the couple was tragically killed by members of the Klu Klux Klan, yet their legacy and impact on Black history has remained.

We examined the Johnson family, who founded The Johnson Publishing Company. The Johnson Publishing Company was founded by John H. Johnson, a grandson of enslaved people. He founded the company in 1942 and created a groundbreaking company that depicted African American life and success through widely known magazines like Ebony and Jet. The company was fully employed by members of Johnson’s family, including his wife, son, and daughter. We recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the Johnson Family and all their work in changing the narrative of African Americans and their stories.

Lastly, we explore peace as a form of love within activism. We learned more about civil rights Activist Diane Nash. As a student at Fisk University, Diane witnessing the segregation around her, sought out workshops and nonviolent organizations against segregation. From there she became an avid believer in nonviolence and its impact. While enrolled at Fisk University, Diane became one of the founding members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. She participated in sit-in movements and freedom rides which she led for one year in 1961. Through her work Diane became one of the most esteemed student leaders and organizers of the time.