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Black history is older than borders. It is carried in language, in music, in migration routes, in survival strategies whispered across oceans. It lives in the courage of those who crossed waters by force and in those who cross them now by choice, necessity, or survival.

At the Black Diaspora Liberty Initiative (BDLI), Black History Month is a reminder that the story of Black people has always been global and that the fight for liberation has always been interconnected.

Black History Month began as Negro History Week, founded in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson. His intention was simple but radical: to ensure that Black contributions to history would not be erased or distorted.

Nearly a century later, the need for that intervention remains.

But for Black immigrants, refugees, and diasporic communities, Black history has often been framed through a narrow U.S.-centric lens, one that overlooks the Caribbean revolutions, African independence movements, and contemporary migrant struggles shaping this moment.

At BDLI, we understand that Black history includes:

• The legacy of resistance on the continent.

• The brilliance of Caribbean liberation movements.

• The organizing traditions of African Americans.

• And the ongoing fight for dignity by Black LGBTQ+ immigrants navigating detention, displacement, and belonging.

For many in our community, Black History Month is deeply personal.

It is the story of arriving in a country that calls itself free, only to encounter new forms of anti-Blackness. It is navigating immigration systems that criminalize survival. It is building a chosen family when borders separate biological ones. It is daring to imagine joy in the face of erasure.

At BDLI, we see Black history unfolding in real time:

• In the host homes that shelter our members.

• In asylum letters written with care and urgency.

• In healing circles where Black queer migrants reclaim their stories.

• In civic engagement efforts that demand policies reflect lived realities.

Our members are not just beneficiaries of history, they are authors of it.

We asked our members what Black History means to them and this is what they have to say.

Queen said “For me, Black History Month is about reflection, pride, and possibility. It’s a moment to recognize our struggles, uplift our achievements, and imagine a future where all Black lives, in every corner of the diaspora, can thrive. 

“Black History Month is a time to honor the ancestors who paved the way, celebrate the resilience of our communities, and remind ourselves that our stories, especially as Black LGBTQ+ immigrants, matter and deserve to be seen.” says by a member K

Juliet Ijeoma said “Black History Month is a time when history is acknowledged and uplifted and when leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Park, Malcolm X and Harriet Tubman are honored and celebrated for the contributions they made. It is about honoring the past, celebrating the present and inspiring the future”.

Karabo Jackson, a member of BDLI, said Black History Month means honoring the resilience, brilliance and resistance of Black people who paved the way for me to exist boldly and unapologetically. It reminds me of people like Harriet Tubman, James Baldwin, and Marsha P Johnson whose courage still inspires my voice and pride. As a proud Black Trans nonbinary woman, it is time to celebrate every part of my identity and the power that lives at the intersection of race and gender.

These voices remind us that Black history is not abstract. It is embodied. It is lived across languages, immigration statuses, genders, and geographies.

History is not something we observe from a distance. It is something we are accountable to.

If we celebrate the freedom fighters of the past, we must fight for the freedom of those at risk today.

Black LGBTQ+ migrants are not just surviving, we are thriving. We are artists, educators, organizers, entrepreneurs, and culture-makers who are redefining what it means to be Black, queer, and boundless. We carry the histories of our homelands and the legacies of those who fought before us. Our contributions matter, and they must be recognized not just during Black History Month, but every day.

To honor Black history is to:

• Create Spaces of Belonging: Whether through cultural events, community gatherings, or digital platforms, we must create spaces where Black LGBTQ+ immigrants feel seen, valued, and empowered.

• Support Black LGBTQ+ Immigrant-Led Organizations: Organizations like BDLI led by and for Black LGBTQ+ migrants are doing critical work in housing, legal aid, mental health, and community organizing. Donate, volunteer, and uplift their work.

• Center Black LGBTQ+ Immigrant Stories: Read, share, and amplify the voices of Black LGBTQ+ migrants in literature, media, and history. Support storytelling projects and platforms that highlight our experiences.

• Advocate for Immigration Justice: Black LGBTQ+ migrants face unique challenges in asylum and immigration systems. Support policies that protect and affirm their right to safety, dignity, and freedom.

Black History Month is not just about remembering the past, it is about shaping the future. And that future must include Black LGBTQ+ migrants, in all our complexity, resilience, and power.

ABOUT BDLI

Black Diaspora Liberty Initiative (BDLI) advocates for the rights and well-being of Black LGBTQ+ immigrants, by fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals not only survive but thrive.

We provide compassionate support, advocacy, and resources for Black LGBTQ+  immigrants who have been displaced from their home countries due to persecution, discrimination, or violence based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, while working towards uniting the Black LGBTQ+ communities in the diaspora.