Celebrating Black History Month

February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of the achievements of Black people and where we recognize their important role in American history. Every US president since 1976 has officially designated each February as Black History Month.

To commemorate the links between the Pacific and our Black brothers and sisters here is the story of why Martin Luther King wore a Hawaiian Lei on the historic Selma March. 

On March 21, 1965, Martin Luther King, John Lewis and other demonstrators can be seen wearing the iconic Hawaiian flower garlands in the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

It's a jarring, out-of-place image of fragile, flowery optimism amidst a backdrop of intimidation, violence and federalized troops; A beautiful story how the story of Aloha spread from Hawai’I to Montgomery, Alabama. Read the full story on The Daily Beast.

Thanks to our friends at E Ala E  Hawaiian Cultural Center for bringing this story to our attention.

If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Black History Month, NAACP has a list of ideas to keep you busy all month long.