How You Can Advocate for Black Girls in Black History Month & Beyond

Growing up, my dad would periodically say to me, “You have two strikes against you: You’re Black and a girl.”

He didn’t say this so I could be all, “Woe is me.” It was the exact opposite, in fact. He knew how the world saw me, even as a child, and wanted to help prepare me for the inevitable mix of racism and misogyny I’d undoubtedly face along this journey. He wanted to prepare me to be able to persist in spite of those evils, in spite of those barriers.

Black girls encounter everything from hair discrimination to colorism to harsher discipline in schools to adultification at very young ages — and that’s just beginning to scratch the surface. (For more info on this, you can simply search “Black girls and racism.”)

But alone, Black people can’t overturn a system of institutionalized racism we didn’t even create. I’ve compiled a list of brands and organizations with missions of uplifting and empowering Black girls and Black people in general. Donate, purchase from them, and share with your networks to support.

1. Donate or subscribe to Sesi magazine.
2. Donate or purchase from The Dinner Table Doc.
3. Donate to Imanee, Inc.
4. Donate to The Homegirl Project.
5. Donate to Black Girls Code.
6. Donate to Black Girls Do, Inc.
7. Donate to Black Lives Matter.
8. Donate to The Black Girl Tribe.
9. Donate to Black Girls Smile.
10. Donate to The Movement for Black Lives.
11. Donate to Spoken Black Girl.
12. Buy Black from Our Black Book Mag.
13. Buy Black from Official Black Wall Street.
14. Listen to Black women on the Faith and The Revolution podcast.
15. Listen to Black women on the Vision Matters podcast.
16. Listen to Black women on the Dreams in Drive podcast.

This list is just to start you off. Of course there are many, many more Black-owned organizations, media outlets, podcasts, brands, etc. to support. Search for them, and learn what they do and how you can help.

Main Image: Adobe Stock