The tumultuous shifts in the political climate have been quite the start of 2025. With these changes has come the time to delve deeper into the importance of resilience during adversity and to remember community solidarity and the necessity of investing in one another.
For this Black History Month, the guide below will help the community discover meaningful ways to support and uplift Black-owned businesses, engage in educational opportunities, and celebrate Black History now and in the future.
Where To Begin?
Start online
The Internet is one of the most effective tools for finding and supporting Black-owned businesses. People can start with Google and search for “Black-owned businesses near me” or “events for Black History Month in Houston.” These searches can help find local shops, specific businesses, markets, and celebrations throughout the city.
Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and TikTok are great resources, too. Following and engaging on social media can lead to discovering accounts promoting Black-owned brands, joining local communities online, finding events, and more. And everyone knows the power of a hashtag online. A general tag, such as #BlackOwnedBusiness, will narrow your search and highlight Black-owned brands, entrepreneurs, and events.
Suggested hashtags:
#SupportBlackOwned
#BuyBlack
Attend Local Events
Houston has a variety of events to attend centered around Black History Month, and some of those events are here on campus. UHD’s African Student Association, Black Student Association, and the Center for Critical Race Studies have collaborated for several events to bring awareness, connection, and celebration. To expose themselves to new experiences and show support through attendance, UHD students can check out coming events and activities on campus here.
To continue showing support outside of campus, below are two upcoming events here in Houston:
Black History Month Celebration at Market Square Park on Feb. 21
Click here to reserve a spot for this event: downtownhouston.org
BLCK History Now! At Karbach Brewing Co. on Feb. 23
https://www.blckmarket.com/events/
Educate Yourself
Participating in educational opportunities is another impactful way to support this month. Black history is not just about the past but is a crucial part of understanding the present. A society must allow itself to grow and continue learning about the country’s history—all its facets, the good, the bad, and the in-between. Need a starting point?
President’s Lecture Series: Searching for Black Ancestors in the American West
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, UHD’s President’s Lecture Series will host a talk with Dr. Alicia Odewale, an African diaspora archaeologist and UH professor. Odewale’s lecture will “take us on a journey to rediscover Black town and Freedom Colonies that were lost, burned down, abandoned, or built over—yet remain deeply significant in the history of the American West.”
Information about Odewale’s talk can be found here.
Book Talk with Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum
The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, located in Houston’s historic Third Ward, will host a book talk with Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black on Feb. 22 from noon to 1 p.m.
Fields-Black is a historian specializing in the transnational history of West African rice cultivation and its connections to enslaved laborers in the American South. She has written several books on the deep ties of rice, the global network, and slavery. In her latest book, “COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War,” Fields-Black discusses an overlooked chapter of abolitionist and activist Harriet Tubman’s time as a spy for the US Army during the Civil War.
https://buffalosoldiersmuseum.org/visit/events/
Share the Love
Supporting Black-owned businesses goes beyond making a purchase – it is about amplifying their presence and ensuring their long-term success. One of the simplest yet most impactful ways to do this is spreading the word: leaving positive reviews, tagging them on social media, and recommending their products or services to friends and family. Engaging with their content – following, liking, commenting, and sharing—helps increase their visibility and reach a wider audience.
Feedback is another valuable form of support. Providing thoughtful, constructive feedback helps businesses grow and refine their products or services. Most importantly, supporting Black-owned businesses should be a consistent habit, not just a one-time effort. By integrating them into your everyday shopping and service choices, you contribute to a stronger, more inclusive community.