The Fire Lives On: A Black History Month Collection
By Shalra Azeem & Keshav Bansal
Black History Month is a time to honor the past, celebrate resilience, and amplify voices that not only shaped history, but the present as well. That’s because Black history isn’t just something we look back on—it’s something we carry forward. It lives in the stories passed down, in the voices that refuse to be silenced, and in the work that is still unfinished.
Over the years, we’ve shared essays, reflections, and excerpts that explore the legacies of Black leaders, the power of storytelling, and the fight for justice in all its forms. In this collection, we’ve brought together some of those powerful pieces from our Black History Month archives. Explore our posts to find book recommendations, read literary reflections, learn about the legacies of civil rights icons, engage with Black queer thought, and more. You’ll find that these essays, excerpts, and tributes weave together a rich tapestry of Black experience.
The fire of Black history doesn’t fade—it fuels the future. Dive into these stories, let them challenge and inspire you, and carry their lessons forward.
What to Read During Black History Month:
The best way to engage deeply with Black History is to be open to learning and to commit to building on our existing knowledge. Between our two reading lists, we aim to do just that. Looking through The New Press’s catalog, we identify an overarching list of the foundational and groundbreaking narratives, discoveries, and contributions of Black Americans throughout history. To build on these reads, find a recommendation from our newest books by looking through our 2024 list. Black stories, movements, and ideas from the past and the present are constantly being created or rediscovered, making it vital for us to acknowledge and engage with an ever-expanding list.
Lives and Legacies of Black Leaders:
As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor the legacides of activists, authors, politicians, and others who have contributed their voices and their service to igniting change and fighting for justice. Taking into account the fact that many of these individuals’ efforts, especially those of Black women, have gone previously unrecognized or overlooked, it becomes especially important to highlight the trailblazers whose who paved the way for future generations. These leaders—who have influenced literature, health care, the judiciary, and more—demonstrate a diversity in their abilities and impact that speaks volumes about the ways in which change can be inspired.
From the Past, for the Future:
