This year's Black History Month theme is Empowering Communities, Advancing Justice, and will be informed by the topics highlighted in the 2024 YWCA Racial Justice Challenge. This month provides an opportunity to explore in depth how each topic of the Racial Justice Challenge impacts Black women and what the YWCA network is doing to advance justice in communities across America.
Follow along all month long to raise awareness of issues affecting Black women’s bodily autonomy, and financial empowerment, and to highlight exceptional Black women past and present. This #BHM2024's racial justice programming is designed to uplift and inspire future exceptional Black women with their history of resilience, dignity, and power.
Bodily Autonomy
Black women have always been at the forefront of change in America. Sojourner Truth’s powerful speech Ain’t I a Woman reminds us that the struggle for gender equality and bodily autonomy are not subjects of new age thinking.
Financial Empowerment/Caregiving
Women’s financial empowerment is essential to the YWCA network's mission, ensuring women -- especially women of color -- are empowered to pursue their dreams and be financially independent. During #BlackHistoryMonth, learn about empowerment programming.
Transportation
Transportation inequality, and the effects it had on the Black community, gave cause to both the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 and the creation of The Freedom Riders -- both powerful demonstrations that resulted in SCOTUS ruling segregation on public buses unconstitutional. This #BHM2024, we celebrate the work carried out by those before us.
Learn more about this month's programming here.