Joseph P. Gresko

February is Black History Month, a time when we celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black individuals. The theme for this year's month-long celebration is “African Americans and the Arts,” which spotlights Black Americans who excelled in various fields of creative expression and their influence on our country's culture.

Connecticut was home to several notable moments in Black history. The Canterbury Female Boarding School, the first boarding school for young Black girls in the country, was in Canterbury. Abolitionist John Brown was born in Torrington. The 29th Colored Regiment, an all-Black regiment based out of Fair Haven during the Civil War, was one of the first units to enter Richmond, Virginia, after it was abandoned by the Confederate Army. Click here to read more about Black history in our state.

I encourage you to take some time to celebrate and learn more about Black history, locally and throughout America. Connecticut is home to several organizations that honor and celebrate the Black experience, such as the Ruby and Calvin Fletcher African American Museum in Stratford and the Amistad Center for Art & Culture in Hartford. 

Click here to find more places that honor and support Black history and culture in our state.

Lastly, I'd like to note the tireless work of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus and other colleagues in the General Assembly. Thanks to their efforts, Connecticut became the first state to require public schools to include Black and Latino history in their curriculums. Black history is American history, and this law ensures that the stories and triumphs of Black Americans will be taught throughout the school year.