Black History Month

Bhm Daily Update

Black History Month was unofficially started in 1915, 50 years after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States to research and promote the achievement of Black Americans and other people of African descent. Fast-forward to 1926, the second week of February — which coincides with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass — the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History launched national Negro History Week. Over time, this week evolved into what we know today as Black History Month.

Upcoming Events:

Black History Month: 40 Acres Past and Present 2/21/2023

Womens Council of Realtors Empire Network presents an exciting and educational event to celebrate Black History Month.

40 Acres Past And PresentWCR Empire Chapter highlights the journey of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, (NAREB). NAREB is an unheralded crusader for democracy in housing.

Our presenters include:

  • Theresa Smith, President of the Bronx Chapter of National Association of Real Estate Brokers
  • Dorothy Botsoe, HGAR Past President, NAR 2023 Vice Chair Fair Housing Policy Committee
  • Anthony Ruperto, Chair, HGAR DEI Committee
  • Teresa Belmore, Chair, Women in Commercial Real Estate

Presented in collaboration with HGAR Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, NAREB and the Women’s Council of Realtors Empire Network

Info & Registration here


Celebrating Black History Month

Freddy Garcia
Freddy Garcia, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer

After New Year celebrations wind down, organizations begin their annual discussions on what and how to celebrate Black History Month. Many begin by recognizing the lives and contributions of Black Americans throughout history, while others post messages of recognition on social media. I believe it all has a role to play but it is also as important to celebrate the stories and achievements of the Black community, authentically, while recognizing the impacts of slavery in our U.S. history.

I’d like to take you down a journey about Black History Month, which all started with Dr. Woodson.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the Father of Black History, is given much of the credit for Black History Month. Throughout his educational career (He was the second African American to earn a doctorate degree from Harvard in 1912) he noticed the ignored representation of the black population in textbooks and took it upon himself to change it. He founded the Association for Study of African American Life and History with the mission to create and disseminate knowledge.

Black History Month began as Negro History week by Dr. Woodson in 1926. It was celebrated on the second week of February because it was already a well-celebrated week with the birthday of two great American symbols—Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass. Despite its name, Dr. Woodson never confined Negro History to a week, a month, or an annual cycle.

He intended for us to use this as a springboard for year-round consumption of African American history. In 1986, it was officially established as a national holiday with a clear statement: “The foremost purpose of Black History Month is to make all Americans aware of the struggle for freedom and equal opportunity.”

It is said that every journey has its own path, but every journey requires forward movement. And that movement, for all of us, should include recognizing the importance of Black History in pursuit of equality and racial justice.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson
Dr. Carter G. Woodson

It isn’t enough to post a Black History Month post. It isn’t enough to highlight a current employee. It isn’t enough to support fair housing mandates. We must dig deeper.

Let’s do all those things by adding ways of showing genuine recognition of Black history. Go ahead and post and don’t disregard the historical struggle; recognize your employees, and don’t forget to state we still have a lot of work to do. Educate yourself on the reality of systemic racism and ways to be antiracist, and lastly, advocate for fair housing while thinking of result-driven ways to eradicate the homeownership gap that exists in our country.

This is a perfect time as we enter a new year to reflect, assess, grow, and act. Once you see, you can’t un-see, and I am confident you will find the opportunity to dig deeper with intention, purpose, and growth.

At Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, we have committed to the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion in ways that allow us to authentically celebrate and acknowledge the diversity among our members, staff, and community. It gives me great pleasure as the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer at HGAR to officially launch our Black History Month celebrations.

We hope to share some informative ways of getting involved and plan on hosting a candid conversation at the end of the month with members of our association to reflect on what Black History Month means to them, personally and professionally.

Last month we celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who eloquently said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” So, let’s start today!


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