We are less than 72 hours away from the end of Black History Month 2026, a month where we celebrated a century of Black History Commemorations and where I “spoke” to you every day through my Daily Challenges. It has been a challenging month, as we have also been dealing with what is happening in our communities, from Minneapolis to Galveston. It has been one thing after another, and it has been hard to stop, to rest, to breathe. Jason Stanley, in his book How Fascism Works, argues that one of the essential components of the rise of a fascist government is a never-ending cycle of rapid-fire controversies, lies, and crises, which are intentionally designed to exhaust you so that you disengage. It is what happens when you are trying to deal with everything, all the time, all at once.
So why don’t we slow it down just a bit? There is a fierce urgency, but I am labeling it as a gentle fierce urgency because if you don’t take the time to rest, you won’t be able to fight. If you don’t take the time to breathe, then you won’t be able to think clearly about what you need to do. If you don’t take an intentional pause to disengage and then re-engage, you might not come back to the fight. And you are needed. We need your ideas. We need your energy. We need your time, talents, and treasures. We need more of us doing the work to promote, protect, and preserve Black History than those who are seeking to erase, ban, and misinterpret.
As we celebrate Day #26, I offer here a gentle reminder of the past 25 Days. Go through them and let me know how many you were able to get through. Were they helpful? Did they provide clarity?
On this day, I would like to hear from you. I can be reached at [email protected], and I will leave the light on for you.
DAY #25: Do Woodson’s Good Work
On the Twenty-Fifth Day of Black History, I challenged you to join me and make the commitment to run after Dr. Woodson, pick up his mantle, and do the good work of protecting, promoting, and preserving Black history.
DAY #24: Get Ready for Our State of the Union
On the Twenty-Fourth Day, I said it was time to take action by becoming a member of ASALH, a Life Member, or purchasing a membership for someone else.
DAY #23: Remembering the Heart of the Movement
On Day Twenty-Three, I urged you to learn more about the women of the Civil Rights Movement and commit to telling the entire story of how we got over. I said do the hard work, dig a little deeper, and do not let their living be in vain.
DAY #20-22: Agitate, Agitate, Agitate
As we entered the third weekend of Black History Month, I encouraged you to take concrete action: stand up, step out, and help change the menu.
DAY #19: Sit at the Feet of Our Elders
On the Nineteenth Day, I challenged you to sit at the feet of our/your elders, learn their stories, and write them down.
DAY #18: Carry the Founders of ASALH As Us
On Day Eighteen, I honored the ASALH founders and encouraged you learn their names, research their lives, and uphold their legacies.
DAY #17: Remember the Young Lion
On this day, when the sun was not shining as bright as it was yesterday, I offered up the closing words from Rev. Jesse Jackson’s July 19, 1988, speech as a way to remember his life, his legacy, and his sacrifice.
DAY #16: Sound the Alarm
On the 16th Day, I shared Toni Morrison’s words from her “Racism and Fascism” Convocation Talk and encouraged you to read them, sit with them, and then use them to sound the alarm so everyone can hear and prepare.
DAY #13-#15: In the Midst of a Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet
As we reached the middle of Black History Month, I wanted to take a moment to remind you of our Black History Month Challenges and encouraged you to use the long weekend to rest and reset.
DAY #12: Help Build the Wall of Resistance
On the Twelfth Day, we challenged you to decide on a specific action to resist today. Select one small, concrete act—such as writing to your representative, joining a local advocacy group, or educating someone about the stakes.One step, taken today, helps build our wall of resistance.
DAY #11: Do the Research: Find Out Who You Are
On the Eleventh Day, you were encouraged to take time, learn your history, and share your story. Teach the next generation that our ancestors were more than just property or bridges; they were survivors, choosing every day to endure for us.
Day #10: Lift Your Voice and Sing
On the Tenth Day, I called on everyone to memorize the words to our Black National Anthem, write them down, speak them aloud, and etch them into your heart.
Day #9: Today, Commit to Standing Tall On the Truth
On the Ninth Day, you were invited to commit to cutting through the noise and pushing through the haze to stand tall on truth because we are truth tellers, truth seekers, fighters, resisters, and clear-eyed survivors.
Days #6-#8: Say It Loud, “I’m Black, and I’m Proud”
On Days Six through Eight, you were encouraged to get up, put down your phone, and declare, “I’m Black and I’m Proud,” so the world can hear. Then do one positive thing for yourself: take a walk, read a book, play with your children, join a protest, cook a good meal, or watch ASALH Black History Month videos.
Day #5: Ask and Answer the Hard Questions
On the Fifth Day, I challenged and encouraged you to ask the hard questions and work relentlessly to find the answers. Be the change you wish to see. Remember, your life is meant to answer a question the world has been asking. Remind yourself of your best actions. Fight for America; she is worth it.
Day #4: Follow ASALH’s North Star
On the Fourth Day, you were encouraged to follow our North Star and take one small act of resistance. Get off the sidelines and into action—there are no spectators in the changing tide of history.
Day #3: Become a Gardener: Help Us to Dig Up Our Past & Plant Some Seeds
On the Third Day, I challenged everyone to plant a seed by learning one new fact about Black History and sharing it with someone else.
Day #1-2: We Proclaim It!
On the First and Second Days, we invited you to join us as we once again claimed the space and proclaimed this February 2026 as Black History Month.
Bending toward social justice,
Karsonya Wise Whitehead
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