February is African American History Month in the United States, and this year, in 2025, The American Mastodon Publication would like to help Black America set the narrative. Black History, is not solely for the profit and capitalism by Large American Corporations, but for the education and remembrance of the long history of Africans in America. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, the "Father of Black History," and author of The Miseducation of the Negro, initiated the celebration of Negro History Week to correspond with the birthdays of our great Forerunners, Frederick Douglas, and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, Negro History Week, expanded to the entire month of February. This year, in 2025, the reelection of President Donald Trump, brings a host of shifting national issues which distract Blacks from concentrating on the major concerns of the African American community including housing (affordable & gentrification of Historic Black neighborhoods), employment, education, black on black violence in service of self hatred, mass incarceration, disparities in healthcare, the government family court intrusion in breaking Black families, the coerce treatment of Black businesses & economics, and one of the most glaring fights with the marketing of sex, drugs, and violence to our youth, in the sponsorship of hyperviolent-hypersexualized Black music and film. The fight for our generation is dare for the sake of our future children in the United States, to live free to determine their destiny and not as the re-enslaved, our sisters as sexual prostitutes, brothers as prisoners, our families broken by the US Court System, or our culture as an immoral communities of people from a glorious past. We must reignite the spirit of commemoration of the African American experience and the love for our Elders. Thus, we would like to challenge all African Americans to plan Family Reunions, Family Brunches, and to redraw Family Trees. We would also like to encourage African American Tours of Black Museums and African American Historical sites across the United States. These are Things to Do: Black History Month 2025
1. Plan Family Reunions or Family Brunches (Form Committees in the Family to organize the event & use family, local, & Black businesses to furnish the lodging, event space, decorations, food, and book signing.)
2. Draw Family Trees & create Photo Albums
3. Tour African American Museums and African American Historical Sites (This list does not include a complete list of Museums & Sites. For example, my favorite museum is the National Museum of Black American Music in Nashville Tennessee. Each State has specific African American Heritage Sites, for example, Florida, Fort Moses.
4. Plant Flowers & Tokens at the Cemetery to celebrate your Family Ancestors, who've "crossed over the river." Send your love, pray for their support, and make sure your children know where their loved ones are buried.
5. Attend Black History Festivals & Celebrations
6. Attend African Drum & Dance Class
7. Support Black American Businesses: Make a real effort to spend money within our community, beginning with businesses owned by your own family & friends.
8. Read a novel by an African or African American Author. The AMP Approved List of Short Stories & Novels will be updated continuously.
9. Enjoy African American Films. List will be updated.
10. Join or volunteer for a local African American organization.
The American Mastodon Publication is proud to celebrate Black History Month 2025 and to challenge African Americans to set their own narrative, organize family functions, and to educate themselves on the long experience of Africans in the United States.
Written by Cowan Amaye-Obu
Director Satuye Cultural Arts & Science Coalition/Editor of The Dancing Mastodon Magazine
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