Don’t miss this year’s Black History Today series

If you haven't already heard, Marcus Harden and I are in the midst of producing another Black History Today series on Rise Up for Students. I hope you'll check it out (and grab a tissue -- you'll need it, trust me).

This year's essays carry special meaning for a few reasons:

One is the guest writers like the Colemans, Michaela Kyles, Julian Lake, Adama Seck, Marcus Harrison Green and others who have brought tears to my eyes with their expressions of love.

Another is that these are the first new Black History Today essays we have shared since the long-running series took on new life last year as the History Lives Here exhibit at the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle. Words can't express how grateful we are to NAAM director Brandon Bird, to Nick Almerico who designed the exhibit, and to everyone who helped our work find this new life. (We'll be at the museum discussing all of this on Saturday (2/28) beginning at 1pm. Come say hi.)

The third reason this year's essays are hitting extra hard is that they are perhaps more needed than ever. As the government tries to ban DEI and erase Black history, and as stormtroopers terrorize our communities and kidnap our neighbors, these expressions of love and solidarity -- celebrations of life and love and the history being made around us -- couldn't be more timely or more important.

So, please, join us by reading and sharing. And if you find yourself inspired, if you find yourself thinking of someone in your life who deserves to be recognized, please tell us about them. Let's get their story out there, too.

We are all making history right now, always deciding what part we will play. Thanks for doing what you do. Keep it up.

Love,

Matt

P.S. I wrote a song last month about the ICE invasion and the ongoing resistance to racist, fascist brutality happening in Minnesota and throughout the country. The song is called "If I Die in Minneapolis" (by Cousin Wolf) and it will be out on streaming services on Friday (2/27). Buy it now to hear it sooner. Proceeds from the sale of the single will go directly to support ICE-impacted families.