Celebrating Black History Month

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate African Americans’ many contributions to American life, work, culture, history, and beyond. This month we explore ways the credit union movement can celebrate Black History Month. In celebration of our past and our future, we highlight several influential figures who have impacted our culture, technology, and economy, including:

• Maya Angelou: American author, poet, and civil rights activist, Angelou is most famous for her 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and was the first Black woman to be featured on a U.S. quarter.
• O.W. Gurley: A businessman who turned 40 acres of land into Greenwood, a thriving community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, also known as Black Wall Street. 
• Garrett Morgan: Blazing a trail for African American inventors in the early 1900s, Morgan created patents for a hair straightening product, a breathing device, revamped sewing machine, and the three-position traffic signal.

In addition to prominent figures whose names we all know, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, thousands of African-American activists, inventors, and artists create history and impact their communities, workplaces, and social environments every day.

As a credit union movement, we strive to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within our organizations and communities. From launching internal DEI committees to engaging in “uncomfortable” conversations around race, gender, and other biases, the credit union movement is raising awareness and influencing positive change. We have a special opportunity to initiate and continue discussions of the individuals and groups that have impacted our world, not only this month but year-round.