Black History Beyond February: Legacy, Learning, and Liberation
As Black History Month comes to a close, we at Hindus for Human Rights take this moment to affirm what we already know—Black history cannot be confined to a single month. It is woven into every aspect of our shared histories, struggles, and triumphs. Black history is American history. It is women's history. It is labor history. It is queer history. It is transformative history. It is a history of survival and resistance, of culture and creativity, of joy and justice.
For those of us committed to human rights, Black history offers crucial lessons. It teaches us about the fight against systems of oppression, from slavery and segregation to colonialism and caste. It reminds us that liberation is always collective, and that justice anywhere is impossible without justice everywhere. It compels us to examine our own movements—whether in South Asia or its diaspora—through the lens of solidarity, acknowledging the deep and ongoing connections between Black freedom struggles and other global justice movements.
This Black History Month, we have reflected on the legacies of those who paved the way—activists, thinkers, artists, and revolutionaries who continue to inspire us. But our commitment to learning does not end with February. One of the most powerful ways to engage with Black history is through its literature: the words, ideas, and experiences that shape movements and challenge systems of power.
With that in mind, we are sharing a selection of influential Black texts that have informed and inspired our work. These books, essays, and speeches are not just historical artifacts but living, breathing calls to action—offering insights into justice, spirituality, identity, and resistance. From W.E.B. Du Bois and Angela Davis to bell hooks and James Baldwin, these voices guide us toward deeper understanding and a more just world.
As we step into March, we invite you to continue this journey with us. Read Black writers. Listen to Black voices. Support Black-led movements. Recognize that the work of justice is ongoing, and that the lessons of Black history are essential to the work of building a future rooted in dignity, equality, and liberation for all.
Angela Davis: Standing With Palestinians
Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr.
The Black Panther Party Ten-Point Program