celebrating Black love

a tender list of Black art to read, watch, and dance to on Love Day 

As fate would have it, the alluring month of February celebrates both Blackness & love and fittingly so. Although it isn’t a federal holiday, there is such a thing called Black Love Day that is celebrated annually on February 13th, the day prior to Valentine’s Day. The world currently needs love desperately, as well as a greater sense of unity and companionship. As we continue to champion the remarkable accomplishments and attributions made by Black folk throughout our affluent history, let us also honor the relationships that served as backbones for our heroes. Their lovers, friends, kin, and sometimes, themselves. 

In honor of Black love, we curated a list of films, shows, books and music to help you celebrate the Black family and community and to show love to Black people. Honoring Black love and relationships is a bit different from the more mainstream Valentine’s Day. To celebrate Black love is to drive a shift in consciousness, as Ayo Handy-Kendi, creator of Black Love Day, puts it. Being immersed in “true, divine, authentic, agape, unconditional love provides an opportunity for the Black community and a broader diaspora of humanity to come together despite our differences.” 

We hope you enjoy the list and have time to check out some of the art mentioned, if you’re not already familiar. Wishing you a happy, healthy, informative, and safe-loving season.