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11 Books, Podcasts, and More to Celebrate Black History Month’s 100th Anniversary
Black ERG members presenting at the National Wildlife Federation's 2024 Annual Meeting. Credit: NWF
2026 marks 100 years of Black History Month in the U.S! This holiday originally started as Black History Week under the guidance of Carter G. Woodson, for a sole purpose of bringing the voices, stories, and histories of Black Americans and members of the diaspora out of the margins, into the collective, where truth and remembrance illuminate not only our shared history but the path towards justice.
Black Americans have a storied and diverse history of fighting for clean air, water, and safe communities. Our history and contributions shouldn’t be overlooked, especially in a time when Black history and communities are under assault.
The Black Employee Resource Group of the National Wildlife Federation is honoring a century of Black history by uplifting the stories that bind us to our collective history and our triumphs. We asked members to submit stories that inspire them this Black History Month, whether it be a podcast, books, movies, or even a song.
Keep reading to learn more about some of the Black environmental leaders at the National Wildlife Federation and the stories that have touched their hearts.
11 Black Stories to Check Out this Month
Song: What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
Black ERG Member: DeHanza Kwong, CRM Manager
Why: Released on May 21, 1971, this album is both a classic in the soul/progressive soul genre and transcends that time to be the perfect soundtrack for today. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gaye said: “…I wanted to write songs that would reach the souls of people. I wanted them to take a look at what was happening in the world.” After listening to the album for the first time, I was in awe of the story, layered vocals, horns, and rhythm. I am recommending this to fans of all types of music.
Book: Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape by Lauret E. Savoy
Black ERG Member: Nizhooni St. Paul, Tribal Partnerships Program Coordinator
Why: I love this book because it blends genres, weaving together her story with geography, history, and more. It’s a great book that helps us reframe how we understand history. It is poetic and great for people who want to “see” landscapes through the connection of history and people.
Book: The 1619 Project | Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones
Black ERG Member: Kearsten Walden. Sr. Marketing Coordinator, Ranger Rick Children’s Publications
Why: “Born on the Water,” part of The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones, is a breathtakingly poetic and visually stunning children’s book that honors the rich legacy, resilience, and humanity of Black Americans. Told through the eyes of a young girl discovering her ancestral story, it reframes the narrative of slavery by beginning not with bondage, but with beauty; with a people who had language, joy, culture, and brilliance.
This book is a powerful, tender offering for Black History Month, reminding us that our stories begin in glory, not in grief. Read it with your children, your students, or your inner child and let it awaken a deeper reverence for where Black Americans come from and how we rise. Let this month be more than remembrance; let it be reclamation.
Podcast: Compost, Cotton & Cornrows, host Dominique Drakeford
Black ERG Member: DeHanza Kwong, CRM Manager
Why: I just stumbled onto this podcast recently, and I am so excited to share it with everyone. According to the summary: “Compost, Cotton & Cornrows is a podcast centering Black sustainability leaders across fashion, agriculture, well-being, and beyond. Through storytelling, culture, and climate conversations, the show explores how ancestral wisdom and modern practices can cultivate regenerative futures.
Hosted by Dominique Drakeford, each episode unearths powerful insights that shift the narrative of environmental justice.” I particularly recommend the episode: You Cannot Talk About Climate Without a #FreeCongo.
Book: All About Love by bell hooks
Black ERG Member: Zoie Stowers, Sr. Coordinator, NWF Board Governance
Why: The word love is most often defined as a noun, yet we would all have a better view of it if we used it as a verb. Bell challenges the reader to consider their thoughts and views on love while giving you cultural awareness of what society allows us to accept and what we are taught to believe love is. Hooks examines how cultural conditioning, power, and fear shape our understanding of love—and how those beliefs can be unlearned.
All About Love explores the idea that love is not merely a feeling, arguing instead that it is an intentional practice rooted in care, respect, responsibility, and honesty. Love in all its forms encourages us to cultivate love in families, friendships, romantic relationships, and communities. I recommend this book to all! Hooks entraps the reader by talking to us, an interactive conversation to explore what love is, but how to apply it in your everyday life. In a time where the world needs more love, All About Love is the perfect book for healing and comfort.
“To truly love, we must learn to mix various ingredients—care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open communication,”
-bell hooks
Book: Faster Than Light by Marilyn Nelson
Black ERG Member: Corina Newsome, Conservation Scientist
Why: My first introduction to this beautiful book of poetry was in hearing the author, Marilyn Nelson, read it to a room full of biologists, artists, and nature enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. This book celebrates Black genius, mourns unthinkable losses, considers species and science in ways that make me see them entirely differently, and so, so much more. I cannot overstate how magical an experience it was to hear this poetry first from the mouth of Ms. Nelson, whose genius has genuinely changed me forever. I cannot recommend this book enough!!!
Book: Metamorphosis: Climate Fiction for a Better Future curated by Grist
Black ERG Member: Samantha Miller, Community Habitat Communications Manager
Why: This book taught me how powerful short stories truly can be. I fell into each chapter and ended up longing for more time in the worlds created by each of the authors. I truly believe that the climate crisis is a crisis of storytelling, and these short stories push the boundaries of our understanding of how humans can survive and adapt to our new climate future, actively rather than passively.
TV Show: Craig of the Creek
Black ERG Member: Zoie Stowers, Sr. Coordinator, NWF Board Governance
Why: Craig of the Creek follows a young boy, Craig, and his two friends, Kelsey and J.P., as they spend their afternoons going on adventures in the suburban wilderness known as the creek. Craig of the Creek is, at its core, a genuinely wholesome show. Its rich mix of characters, personalities, family dynamics, art styles, humor, and storylines keeps viewers of all ages invested. Craig himself is a young African American boy growing up in the suburbs with his family, and each adventure invites us to share his love for the outdoors.
Through his eyes, we see the joy of exploring nature, protecting the environment, and building friendships with those of different backgrounds. The show celebrates being present in nature, appreciating the healing power of nature, and recognizing the endless possibilities that outdoor spaces can offer.
If you’re searching for a show to enjoy with your kids, or even something to scratch that nostalgic itch for ’90s classics like Hey, Arnold!, Codename: Kids Next Door, or Recess, Craig of the Creek is a fun and heartwarming series I highly recommend (For a sneak peak, Youtube offers a free full episode of one of my favorite episodes!)
Movie: Fast Color
Black ERG Member: Ashley Fletcher, Programs Operations Coordinator
Why: Fast Color (2018) is a quiet, intimate sci-fi drama about three generations of Black women—Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), her mother Bo (Lorraine Toussaint), and daughter Lila (Saniyya Sidney)—possessing supernatural abilities to manipulate matter in a near-future, water-scarce dystopia. Fleeing government agents, Ruth returns home to harness her volatile, earthquake-inducing powers, learning to embrace her heritage and heal her fractured family.
Fast Color breaks away from male-dominated, destruction-focused superhero tropes, centering on Black women’s experiences, trauma, and healing. The film focuses on the emotional journey of owning one’s strength rather than just saving the world, providing a rare, character-driven sci-fi narrative for Black women.
Podcast: Edible Activist host Melissa L. Jones
Black ERG Member: DeHanza Kwong, CRM Manager
Why: For a podcast on the forefront of cultural changes in foraging, farming, and all things food and agriculture, check out Edible Activist. According to the summary: “Edible Activist is a podcast that feeds you empowering narratives and perspectives from the voices of emerging black people and people of color in food and agriculture who are stewarding the land, healing communities, and advocating for food justice and economic power across the globe.
Hosted by Melissa L. Jones, she interviews a diverse group of everyday growers, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists, and other extraordinary individuals who exemplify activism in their own edible way!
Content: Ted Talk: The Danger of a Single Story
Black ERG Member: Zoie Stowers, Sr. Coordinator, NWF Board Governance
Why: Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice—and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. I remember watching this Ted Talk in high school back in 2015, and it still stays with me to this day.
It reminds me that the world has multiple layers. Even though Adichie talks mostly from her experience as a Nigerian, I think everyone can learn from her story. Her Ted Talk is an opportunity for all of us to explore where we hold our own single stories, and how we can repair and grow from them.
Content: ‘African American Herbalism’ by Lucretia VanDyke
Black ERG Member: Kearsten Walden. Sr. Marketing Coordinator, Ranger Rick Children’s Publications
Why: One of the most powerful books I recommend for Black History Month is African American Herbalism by Lucretia VanDyke. It’s more than a guide to healing plants—it’s a reclamation of ancestral knowledge that was nearly erased by colonialism and white supremacy.
For centuries, Black midwives, rootworkers, and community healers across the South used herbal remedies to care for their people when no one else would—women like Harriet Tubman, who carried wild ginger and other herbs on her journeys to soothe illness and injury along the Underground Railroad.
This book honors those legacies. VanDyke doesn’t just preserve plant wisdom; she revives a sacred lineage of resistance, care, and survival. As someone deeply connected to herbalism and spiritual wellness, this book reminded me that our roots run deep…and they heal.
Black History is American History
Black environmental leaders have contributed so much to the movement to make our communities healthier, safer, and more sustainable. We hope the stories shared in this blog bring joy and spark new opportunities for learning and growth.
