Celebrate Black History Month
Five things you need to know when talking to your Girl Scouts.
Co-authored by Leslie Anselme and Morgan Alley. Please reach out to Leslie Anselme, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion/Racial Justice with any questions.
February is Black History Month! At Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, we try our best to champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice in everything we do. We encourage every Girl Scout to celebrate with us and earn their Black History Month Celebration “I’m A Girl Scout!” Fun Patch.
Before your Girl Scouts get started on earning this fun patch, we’ve compiled a list of five relevant discussion points that will help you facilitate activities with deeper knowledge and understanding.
1. Both the terms “Black” or “African American” are correct, but they are not necessarily interchangeable.
The term African American, which was heavily promoted by activist Jesse Jackson in the 80s and 90s, originated as a way to acknowledge the origin of Black people in the Americas. Even with multiple generations born and raised in the Americas, an African American's lineage can be traced back, albeit not always specifically, to Africa by way of the transatlantic slave trade.
The term Black (with a capital B) is used as an umbrella term to include the people and the resulting culture of those within the African diaspora.
- Black typically refers to darker skin colors (though we know that not all Black people have darker skin), and certain hair types or facial features. It doesn't necessarily include any nuance.
- A Girl Scout who identifies as Black may also identify as Trinidadian American or African American.
- Someone may choose to identify as either Black or African American, both, or neither!
2. What do we mean when we reference the African Diaspora?
- Diaspora is defined as the spread of a people from their original homeland.
- The African Diaspora refers to the worldwide collection of communities and individuals of African origin living outside the continent through both voluntary and involuntary movement, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality.
- The most populated regions of African Diaspora can be found in North America, South America, and the Caribbean.
3. The first Girl Scout Troop to welcome Black Girl Scouts, the Red Rose Troop, was located in New Bedford, MA.
- In 1913, the Red Rose Troop was founded in New Bedford, MA by Emma Hall.
- The Red Rose Troop was the third Girl Scout troop in the country, and the first to welcome Black Girl Scouts.
- Despite Girl Scouts being founded as a space for "all girls," Black Girl Scouts were still excluded by segregation laws across the US. The first all-Black troops were established around 1917.
4. Girl Scouts was commended by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as “a force for desegregation”.
- Maggie Lena Walker, a businesswoman and teacher, was the first Black woman to charter a bank and serve as a bank president in this country. Walker served as Troop leader for Girl Scout Bird Troop #34, the first Black Girl Scout Troop south of the Mason-Dixon line in 1932.
- In the early 1940s, Civil Rights leader, Mary McLeod Bethune helped start a troop in Washington DC, and even brought that troop to the White House to have tea with First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt.
5. Did you know these famous Black women are Girl Scout alums?
- Queen Latifah - actor, singer
- Robin Roberts - journalist, television anchor
- Dionne Warwick – singer
- Mariah Carey – singer
- Meghan Markle – actor, Duchess of Sussex
