Black History Month – Local History, Mental Health Resources and Events
February 2025
Theme for 2025: “The 2025 Black History Month theme, African Americans and Labor, focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational and voluntary – intersect with the collective experiences of Black people.”
History:
African Americans have played a crucial role in labor movements throughout history, overcoming systemic barriers. During the Reconstruction era, they made significant strides in agriculture, trades, and entrepreneurship. In the 20th century, Black American workers were key in unionizing efforts that improved working conditions for all. Notable figures include A. Philip Randolph, who organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, and C.L. Dellums, a labor leader and civil rights advocate from the Bay Area.
Notable Local Contributions:
C.L. Dellums: A leader in the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and a significant figure in Oakland, Dellums’ advocacy extended to civil rights, influencing both local and national movements.
Betty Reid Soskin: America’s oldest active National Park Ranger until her retirement in 2022 at age 100. During WWII, she worked for the segregated Boilermakers’ Union, highlighting the contributions of Black women on the home front.
The Port Chicago 50: African American sailors who risked their lives handling hazardous munitions during WWII. Their strike after the Port Chicago explosion in 1944 was pivotal in the fight against racial discrimination in the military and labor industries.
Source: https://smcl.org/blogs/post/celebrating-black-history-month-2025-african-americans-and-labor/
Explore the San Mateo County Office of Education’s Black History Month resources! This page offers educational materials and activities to enhance your understanding and teaching of Black history. Dive in and discover how you can honor and learn from the past while fostering a more inclusive future: https://www.smcoe.org/for-communities/black-history-month.html
Discover the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s (ASALH) Black History Month themes! Dive into these themes to gain a deeper understanding of the collective experiences and contributions of Black people throughout history: https://asalh.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2025-Black-History-Theme-Executive-Summary-1.pdf
Local Events:
African American Community Initiative (AACI) is hosting their 2025 Black History Month Wellness Event celebration!
This is a free community event promoting arts and wellness for African Americans. Expect live music, resource fair, speakers, and health & wellness checks. Learn more.
Explore the history of Black History Month and discover a variety of events and programs happening throughout February in San Mateo County:
Activities:
Discover more about local African American history by exploring San Mateo County’s online exhibit: https://www.smcoe.org/for-communities/black-history-month.html
Explore the San Mateo County Office of Education’s Black History Month resources! This page offers educational materials and activities to enhance your understanding and teaching of Black history. Dive in and discover how you can honor and learn from the past while fostering a more inclusive futureL https://www.smcoe.org/for-communities/black-history-month.html
Discover the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s (ASALH) Black History Month themes! Dive into these themes to gain a deeper understanding of the collective experiences and contributions of Black people throughout history: https://asalh.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2025-Black-History-Theme-Executive-Summary-1.pdf
Articles/Books to Read:
Check out San Mateo County Libraries Online
Mental Health Resources:
NAMI African American Mental Health
ADAA Mental Health Resources for the Black Community