THE ULTIMATE FANDOM NEWSLETTER
Next release: NOVEMBER 15 | 4 PM EDT
Join us in observing Black History Month
Fans from far and wide, come together and learn more about Black History Month with us! We are so lucky to be able to celebrate actors, artists, activists, and creators who have shaped the world as we know it and paved the way in history.
Getting Informed
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King is most famously known for his "I Have A Dream" speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. This movement and his speech was a monumental step in history as it pushed the Federal Government in the United States to start to fully realize racial equality. You can read more about Dr. King here, and read the transcript of his speech here.
Langston Huges
Poet, novelist, author, and playwright, Hughes was a pivotal figure in literature shaping the Harlem Renaissance. Take a moment to read his poem "I, Too", and reflect upon the meaning and emotion behind his words.
Thurgood Marshall
Marshall founded the Legal Defense Fund in 1940 and became the first African-American US Supreme Court Justice. His creation of the LDF helped ensure the rights and responsibilities of citizenship for Black people. Learn more about his life and work here.
Laws & Historical Events
Read up on the history of slavery, laws, and movements that changed the course of history in America. Here are some links to:
- Learn more about Juneteenth,
- Understand the significance of the Jim Crow Laws
- Read a transcript of former US President Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" speech,
- The case of Shelley v. Kraemer,
- Take a virtual tour of the Missouri History Museum's exhibit #1 in Civil Rights.
- Watch the video "The Hate U Give"
- Learn about Civil Rights icon Frankie Freeman
Music
Music is and was an integral piece of the Civil Rights movement. The emotion and stories shared by blues singers are powerful pieces of shared history and should be listened to by all. You can watch some informative videos from the National Blues Museum, learn about legendary Bluesman Bobby Rush, listen to a playlist put together by NPR, or read about the history of hip-hop.
Helpful Ways to Do More
Want to learn how to be more involved? Here are a few helpful links to help guide you on how to observe this month
- CNN's Article on How to Celebrate
- How NOT to celebrate Black History Month
- Learn about your local black owned businesses through sites like SBO, EatOkra, and AfroBiz
- Support organizations like the Legal Defense Fund (LDF)
- Explore topics with the National Museum of African American History & Culture
- Read books written by Black authors
- Check out the CBC's Black Canadian author list
FAN EXPO GUESTS APPRECIATION
Celebrating Fandom
FAN EXPO HQ has been lucky enough to bring together fans every year to celebrate our fandoms, and we'd like to give our appreciation to our amazingly talented guests that we have been lucky enough to have attended our shows in the past!