Alltold Staff
Black History Month’s Biggest and Best Tributes
Updated: Mar 5, 2019

Black History Month began in 1926 and has been celebrated every February since then, but the
ways of honoring and making tribute are ever-changing. This 2016, we had one of the most
exciting, headliner Black History Months America has seen in a long time.
This Black History month celebrated with the United States’ first black president for the last
time. However, President Obama made one of the most memorable moments of the entire month
on February 18th by inviting 106 year old Virginia McLaurin to the White House. Why is this
cool? Virginia was invited to escape the crowds and privately meet the President and First Lady
as thanks for her decades of charity work in Washington, D.C.. It may have been a private
meeting, but there were definitely cameras to catch Virginia’s pure joy as she introduced herself.
She expressed the importance of African American representation by being so happy that she
danced, at 106 years old. You can watch the heartwarming video at WhiteHouse.gov.
Another one of the most awe-inspiring tributes to Black History month was performed at the
Super Bowl. Can you guess what it is? Yes, we’re talking about Beyoncé’s performance of
Formation at halftime. The song itself is anthem of pride to be an African American, stating
Beyoncé’s own personal self-love for her characteristics and lashing back against hurtful
stigmas. Not only that, but the performance itself paid tribute to the Black Panther Party, which
was a big part of America’s anti-discrimination movement as self-defense. Needless to say, even
if you aren’t a fan of the song, there’s still a lot you can learn from the intended message behind
it.
Of course, there were innumerable notable things remembered and celebrated throughout
Black History Month that happened in the past year as well. One such example was Daymond
John, African American businessman and multi-millionaire, winning the national Hennessy
Award for giving back to the community. Another was Rihanna, pop singer, becoming the first
African American ambassador to the high fashion label Dior. It just goes to show that whilst
Black History Month is every February, media-crowned ‘black excellence’ happens every single
day!