In 1916, fifty years after the abolition of slavery in the United States, American historian and author Carter G. Woodson published a journal commemorating the long-overlooked achievements of Black Americans.
Ten years later, Woodson established the week of February 7th as Negro History Week. In 1976, Texas A&M University Afro-American history professor Albery Broussard expanded that week to include all of February and gave Black History Month the name we know today.
Black History Month is a celebration of Black voices, heritage, and creativity that have risen above systems of racism and oppression to benefit all of society. It’s also a reminder that those systems persist but must be dismantled, so that we can leave our children and grandchildren a more just world than the one we inherited.
For New Seasons Market, that means striving to become better neighborhood allies and stewards every day. We’re intently focused on listening to Black and BIPOC voices to learn how to best support all members of the community—from partnering with nonprofits and Black-owned businesses to staff education.
If you’d like to contribute more directly, please check out our local community partners like the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition and the Feed’em Freedom Foundation (FFF). These organizations do amazing work, empowering a new generation of Black agriculturalists to fight food insecurity throughout the Pacific Northwest. You can donate to the FFF at the register during your next New Seasons run.
We’re proud to partner with Black producers and to highlight their products in our stores. From beauty brands to micro-wineries and African chef de cuisines, here are a few brands you can support by purchasing their products:
Alaffia
Founded in 2003 by entrepreneur Olowo-n’djo Tchala, this beloved Olympia-based beauty brand makes natural balms, butters, washes, and more for all skin and hair types. Most of Alaffia’s products utilize Fair Trade unrefined shea butter and West African Orangutan-safe palm oil grown on small, sustainable, multi-cropped farms.
Mason Noir Wines
McMinnville-based and award-winning sommelier André Hueston Mack crafts distinctive, approachable garage wines (micro-négociant) using the best grapes possible from the Willamette Valley—all with the mission of showcasing the delicious bounty of Oregon and welcoming new wine lovers into the fold.
Flourish Spices & African Foods
With the belief that food brings families and cultures together, Salem-based entrepreneur Olajumoke Elkanah started producing packaged African cuisines to make the foods she enjoyed growing up available to all in her community. Flourish Jollof Rice Mix, a customer favorite, needs only water and oil to create a truly traditional African dish.
Ghetto Gastro Presents Black Power Kitchen
Part cookbook. Part manifesto. This gorgeous volume packs 75 delectable, mostly plant-based recipes in its 300-plus pages, alongside evocative art and photography, illuminating interviews, and insightful passages contemplating race, political power, cuisine, and how they all intersect in our daily lives.
Creating a more equitable world starts one day, one conversation, one meal at a time. Thank you for helping us do our part to do more and do better for our Black and BIPOC neighbors in Oregon and Washington.
Ghetto Gastro Presents Black Power Kitchen
Part cookbook. Part manifesto. This gorgeous volume packs 75 delectable, mostly plant-based recipes in its 300-plus pages, alongside evocative art and photography, illuminating interviews, and insightful passages contemplating race, political power, cuisine, and how they all intersect in our daily lives.
Creating a more equitable world starts one day, one conversation, one meal at a time. Thank you for helping us do our part to do more and do better for our Black and BIPOC neighbors in Oregon and Washington.
Ghetto Gastro Presents Black Power Kitchen
Part cookbook. Part manifesto. This gorgeous volume packs 75 delectable, mostly plant-based recipes in its 300-plus pages, alongside evocative art and photography, illuminating interviews, and insightful passages contemplating race, political power, cuisine, and how they all intersect in our daily lives. Creating a more equitable world starts one day, one conversation, one meal at a time. Thank you for helping us do our part to do more and do better for our Black and BIPOC neighbors in Oregon and Washington.
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