11 Reasons Black History Month 2017 Was Iconic As Hell

Black people are magical beings year round, but for some reason, we shine especially bright during the month of February. I found this particular Black History Month to be “the best Black History Month in the history of Black History Months,” and I think we should take some time to reflect. Here are 11 reasons why Black History Month 2017 was iconic as hell:

1. Beyoncé’s big announcement. Queen Bey decided to start Black History Month off by announcing on February 1st that she was carrying not one, but TWO bundles of joy. The world stopped as we prepared ourselves for the expanding of the royal family of America.
2. Barack “Living My Life Like It’s Golden” Obama embodies his Black boy joy. Our beloved President Obama became a regular citizen this month and he couldn’t have done it in a better fashion. He has glo’d up and has been spotted looking stress-and-carefree. There’s even a video of him dancing on stage at a concert circulating on Twitter.
3. Remy Ma came out with the longest and most detailed diss track known to man. If you’re a rap fan like myself, you were probably shocked when you saw that Remy Ma dropped a Nicki Minaj diss track that was 7 minutes long on a Saturday. The track “Shether” discusses everything about Minaj from butt implants to who she has allegedly slept with. All I know is that if I was Nicki, I would play it cool for a while and let everything blow over because “Shether” was harsh!
4. Rihanna was the first Black female artist to be named humanitarian of the year at Harvard. She may not have accepted her award during Black History Month, but she accepted her award in true Black girl fashion, with a cute ponytail flip. You go, Ri Ri!
5. Chance the Rapper won big at the Grammys as an independent artist. If you’ve been a Chance fan from the start like me, this was definitely a special moment for you. He made a heart-warming speech and although he almost got cut off, he finished it by thanking God and shouting out Chicago. What a cutie pie!
6. Get Out scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Finally! The first film where the Black guy does not die first, or at all for that matter. Jordan Peele did his thing. This movie is funny, suspenseful, and it managed to bring to light the issue of racism and how micro-aggressions are indeed real.
7. “I am Not Your Negro” debuted. This classic film takes us into the life of James Baldwin and makes some fascinating revelations about the way in which Black and White people cohabitate. It even sheds some light on important civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr., and their untimely deaths. 10/10 would recommend.
8. Viola Davis became the first Black person ever to earn an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony for acting. Viola Davis is a godsend. That is all.
9. Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar. The Oscars weren’t so White this year!
10. Moonlight literally snatched the crown from La La Land for best picture. No explanation needed here!
11. Two racist terrorists are sentenced to 35 years combined in prison after showing up to an innocent beautiful Black girl’s birthday party with Confederate flags and guns. Justice was served on the last day of Black History Month. Karma is a b****! #SorryNotSorry

There are loads of more reasons that Black History Month 2017 proved to be mad lit, but these stood out the most, and these were the most talked-about. To all my non-Black people reading this, I genuinely hope that you took the month of February to take 28 seats and learn 28 new things about Black people because we’re the amazing. I hope you read something by Angela Davis, listened to a recording of Stokley Carmichael, or took the time out to do some research on Malcolm X.

And to all my fellow brothers and sisters reading this, stay lit, and remember that Black lives do in fact matter, ESPECIALLY IN FEBRUARY. I can’t wait to make next Black History Month even more iconic!