U.S. Support for Heritage Months Appears to Have Disappeared. You Can Do Something About That.

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This year I am doing what some might call identity reading--I'm reading books by authors who are members of groups that have been marginalized in the past or still are. I'm doing that by planning my reading around Heritage Months, months that have been dedicated to recognize various groups. Last month I read for Black History Month, this month I'm reading for Women's History Month.

I used the U.S. Department of State's list of heritage months, which existed in February. It does not exist now. Back in February, when I wrote about this, I carefully made a list of those heritage months, though it doesn't include which heritage groups are recognized on which calendar months. You can also find an archived State Department Celebrates Heritage and History Months from a different administration that looks pretty similar to the page that disappeared. 

You Actually Have the Power to do Something 

You can read anytime

If the removal of that material from the government website is something that concerns you, you can take positive action to compensate for its absence.

You don't need a government agency's guidance to read about women, Arab Americans, Jewish Americans, immigrants, LGBTQ Americans, Hispanic Americans, or Native Americans. Google any of those topics, and you'll find agencies and libraries with book lists. 

More important than reading about these groups, read books by authors who are members of these groups. It doesn't matter whether you buy their books or get them at a library, whether you read a traditional or e-book edition. Read something. If you like what you've read, use your voice to tell people.

• Tell people on Facebook, BlueSky, Twitter, or any other social media platform you are part of.
• On Goodreads? Do a Goodreads review.
• If you can tolerate Amazon, do an Amazon review.

These are important actions for supporting all writers, at any time. You can do these things now for these groups of writers.

A Suggested Schedule

Here's the schedule I'm using for the rest of my Heritage Month reading project. You'll notice a few blank months. I definitely will need them to spread out the reading on some of the months honoring multiple groups. But, you know, we can read and support authors and groups any time of the year. 

• March: Women's History
• April: Arab American History
• May: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Island Heritage Month; Military
  Appreciation Month; Jewish American History Month
• June: Immigrant Heritage Month, Pride Month, Caribbean American Heritage Month. 
• Sept. 15 through Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month 
• November: Native American Heritage Month. (That wasn't part of the Department of State's website. Make of that what you will.) Military Family Appreciation Month

You may find organizations that support other heritage or history groups. You can read and support anyone you want.

Reading and supporting someone is doing something.