If you live in the United States, you know that February is Black History Month.

This year's observance falls at a convulsive time for Americans. As the Trump administration works to eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in government and throughout American society, from companies to nonprofits, it's more important than ever to celebrate and commemorate the achievements and the contributions of Black Americans, as well as the uphill struggles that so many have had to wage throughout this country's nearly 250-year history.

As Coretta Scott King said, “Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation.”

For this generation, it feels like we’re losing many of the freedoms that have been gained through great individual and collective struggle.

For this reason and more, Black History Month takes on an even deeper significance. Carter G. Woodson, the historian and author who is widely recognized as the "father of Black History Month," chose February because it includes the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, but his focus was on lifting up the contributions of people who were previously left out of the history books. His idea was to educate white Americans about Black history and culture as a weapon in the struggle for racial uplift and equality.

“Knowing the past opens doors to the future,” writes Lonnie Bunch, secretary of the Smithsonian, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture website. “In essence, Woodson — by celebrating heroic black figures — be they inventors, entertainers, or soldiers — hoped to prove our worth, and by proving our worth — he believed that equality would soon follow.”

With that in mind, two films that premiered at Sundance are worthy of your attention.

SEEDS, the winner of the US Grand Jury Prize for documentary, explores the lives, traditions and history of Black generational farmers in the American South. First-time feature filmmaker Brittany Shyne captures the rhythm of life of Black farmers in the American South with this beautifully crafted black-and-white film.  

“Black farm life is often thought of as a place of strife or discord,” Shyne told Variety. “But I wanted to illustrate that it’s also something that’s harmonious through the generations of these farming family members. I wanted to show the fact that these black farmers have been adaptive and resourceful for all their lives, even with historical barriers in place. I wanted to highlight a community that was always empowered in their own way, but one that didn’t always have the accessibility to speak their truth, their history.”

SEEDS will be available to wider audiences soon. It was supported by public funding from ITVS and Black Public Media, and they look forward to presenting it in the coming year. I urge you to seek it out and watch it. SEEDS is an important historical narrative with resonance and relevance for today.

Another important Black history narrative is shared in HOW TO BUILD A LIBRARY, a powerful new documentary from Kenya. It tells the story of two remarkable women who decided to transform what used to be a whites-only library until 1958 into a vibrant cultural center in Nairobi.

Filmed over eight years, it follows celebrated novelist Shiro Koinange and visionary publisher Angela Wachuka as they navigate local politics, raise millions for the renovation and rebuild, and at the same time, confront the lingering ghosts of Kenya’s oppressive colonial past.

“This is not just a film about restoring a library, but about reclaiming our narrative and sparking a cultural renaissance in Nairobi,” says filmmaker Maia Lekow. “It is also about the intergenerational tensions that come about with re-imagining the future, while also celebrating African women, our resilience and creativity.”

I have been following the progress of this film since meeting directors Maia Lekow and Christopher King on a visit to Nairobi in 2015. They had already begun filming with the support of Geralyn White Dreyfous, a highly respected film producer, who brought other US-based impact investors to the project.

Documenting stories like this one — evolving narratives happening in real time — takes time and patience, and in this case, the result is an insightfully nuanced story of cultural and generational conflict. I am eager to visit the McMillan Library myself on my next Nairobi visit. Congrats to Maia and Chris for this unique, multi-layered film journey, and to the dynamic duo, Shiro Koinange and Angela Wachuka, much admiration for their resilience and dedication to this quixotic and important mission

These films document very different narratives from the experiences of two very different Black communities on two different continents. Each reminded me of the power that well-told stories have to deepen understanding and activate needed advocacy, especially now, during this time of pushback in the US on all efforts to respect and promote diversity and to fight for equity for all races and genders.

As the great Black American writer, Langston Hughes, reminds us...

"Hold fast to dreams,

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird.”

This Black History Month, I’m hoping to see more attention paid to stories and dreams that remind us of our shared humanity. Such stories have the power to restore and repair the broken wings of freedom — for Black communities everywhere.

Onward!

- Pat

Correction: Previously stated that SEEDS did not have distribution, but SEEDS was supported by public funding from ITVS and Black Public Media, and they look forward to presenting it in the coming year.