Black History Month 2025
More than 50 years ago, thanks to Black scholars, educators, and the Black United Students at Kent State University, what was initially established as Negro History Week in the 1920s expanded into what we celebrate today as Black History Month. Federally recognized in 1976, President Gerald Ford urged communities across the U.S. to join him and honor the “too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans.”
It cannot be overstated how the trans movement as we know it today, especially as it pertains to establishing the mutual aid frameworks that have ensured our community survives with dignity, would be impossible without the leadership and contributions of Black trans individuals. Despite this fact, Black trans and nonbinary people are often excluded in both mainstream Black history and trans history, with the exception of the occasional lip service paid to Marsha P. Johnson by majority white-led LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and organizations.
The only way to begin to disrupt this injustice and create solutions to the other devastating impacts of transmisogynoir, is to begin to invest in Black trans liberation. This Black History Month, we at Trans Lifeline invite you to support Black trans communities and organizations by doing the work. Here are some great resources and actionable ways to participate this Black History Month:
Recommended reads:
- Revolution Is Love: A Year of Black Trans Liberation by Various Authors
- Black Queer History is American History by Tymia Ballard
- Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton
Familiarize yourself with Black trans leaders with GenderCool Project’s Trans Black History Instagram Reel
Follow and donate to Black trans-centering organizations:
