In honor of Black History Month, we offer a few resources to learn more about history that you may not have learned in school. Martin Eakes, our CEO, reminds us that Black history includes countless achievements in spite of centuries of systemic economic and social injustices. See his brief statement below, plus some relevant links specific to Self-Help's story.
Learn More About Black History – A Few Places to Start
28 Days of Black History
The National Museum of African American History and Culture
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Center for Racial Justice in Education
Learning for Justice
Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
There are also many great options on YouTube and film streaming services. The New York Times offers 28 recommended films for each day of the month.
A Message from our CEO, Martin Eakes
"Black history is American history, which includes all the many contributions of Black Americans, and also includes more than four centuries of policies that have produced economic and social injustices. Fighting those injustices has always been at the heart of Self-Help's mission.
This month we will be honoring Black History in various ways, including in social media and with a new video. But the main way we honor this history is through the lending and community development work we do every day in partnership with Black members, Black-led businesses, civil rights organizations and many allies. Thank you for joining us as we pursue this work and affirm that Black lives matter."
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Self-Help's history is steeped in the history of Black workers and families and also histories that go back even further with our legacy credit unions that have joined us through mergers. See our collection of short documentaries, especially St. Luke Credit Union, People's Federal Credit Union and Seaway Bank.
One of Self-Help's earliest borrowers was the Worker-Owned Sewing Company in Windsor, NC.