Black History Month 2025: Resources

Recognizing, celebrating, and remembering Black History Month is more important today than ever. Nonprofits understand that unfair systems in society can cause gaps in services and unequal access to resources. We work to fill those gaps and help meet the needs of people who have not gotten the same opportunities as others.

There is a big racial economic gap in America. For example, 1 in 3 Black children live in poverty, while only 1 in 10 White children face the same situation. In the nonprofit world, Black-led nonprofits make $47,700 less on average than White-led nonprofits*.

Black History Month is a chance to learn about the important contributions of Black Americans and Black Montanans to our society, as well as the ongoing issues of racial inequality. We have a great resource with suggestions for how to recognize – and celebrate!- Black History Month as a nonprofit in Montana.

Missoula Public Library put together a great reading list, including a great selection of books and articles about Black History in Montana and the West.

*Empowering change: Black-founded nonprofits achieving impact with limited resources. This article from Candid has great information about the funding gap between Black-led and White-led nonprofits.

The Lost Black History of the American West – read about Delilah L. Beasley, a Black historian who brought to light long-buried stories about Black gold miners, cowboys, and other characters of the American West.