The Third Circuit Court Diversity and Inclusion Team’s Mission: "We appreciate our common connection and respect our diverse and unique human experiences. We move forward as an inclusive organization as we provide accessible and equal justice."

The Court’s Diversity & Inclusion Team strives to ensure the values of its diverse bench, staff, and court users are acknowledged and reflected in our delivery of service as well as our work environment.

In that spirit, the team creates and shares a monthly list of various holidays and observations along with some celebration suggestions. We invite our work community and the community at large to contribute.

February 2023

Source: https://www.calendarr.com/united-states/calendar-february-2023/

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

As a Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson, like W. E. B. Du Bois before him, believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail over prejudice. His hopes to raise awareness of African American's contributions to civilization was realized when he and the organization he founded, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), conceived and announced Negro History Week in 1925. The event was first celebrated during a week in February 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The response was overwhelming: Black history clubs sprang up; teachers demanded materials to instruct their pupils; and progressive whites, not simply white scholars and philanthropists, stepped forward to endorse the effort.

By the time of Woodson's death in 1950, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life and substantial progress had been made in bringing more Americans to appreciate the celebration. At mid–century, mayors of cities nationwide issued proclamations noting Negro History Week. The Black Awakening of the 1960s dramatically expanded the consciousness of African Americans about the importance of black history, and the Civil Rights movement focused Americans of all colors on the subject of the contributions of African Americans to our history and culture.

The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation's bicentennial. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” That year, fifty years after the first celebration, the association held the first Black History Month. By this time, the entire nation had come to recognize the importance of Black history in the drama of the American story. Since then each American president has issued Black History Month proclamations. And the association—now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)—continues to promote the study of Black history all year.



(Excerpt from an essay by Daryl Michael Scott, Howard University, for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History)

Source: https://blackhistorymonth.gov/about/

Black History Month Celebrations in Wayne County:

Black History Culture Celebration:

Come out to the 1^st annual Black History Month event that features art, vendors, raffles, dance, food, music and more on Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at the Grand Epicurean, 22347 Ecorse Road, Taylor, MI.

Source: https://www.metroparent.com/events/black-history-culture-celebration-at-grand-epicurean-in-taylor/

Black is the New Black:

Central Michigan University’s Fashion Merchandising & Design program and Black Leaders Detroit will celebrate Black History Month by sharing the creative work of Black fashion design students and alumni on Thursday, February 9, 2023 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at CMU, 777 Woodward Ave., Suite 160, Detroit, MI. 

Source: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fashion-future-celebrating-black-history-month-through-fashion-tickets-473618865777?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

1^st Annual Black Bottom Jazz Showcase:

In honor of Black History Month, The 1^st Annual Black Bottom Jazz Showcase will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at Bert’s Warehouse Theater, 2739 Russell, Detroit, MI. The showcase will feature Anita O’Day Tribute, Take 5 – All Male Jazz Revue, and Satin Doll Revue-All Female Jazz Revue. 

Source: https://www.hourdetroit.com/events-calendar/__trashed-15/

NATIONAL DONOR DAY

Observed every year on February 14th, National Donor Day is an observance dedicated to spreading awareness and education about organ, eye, and tissue donation. National Donor Day was started in 1998 by the Saturn Corporation and its partner, the United Auto Workers, and is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

National Donor Day is a time to focus on all types of donation— organ, eye, tissue, blood, platelets, and marrow. National Donor Day is also a day to recognize those who have given and received the gift of life through organ, eye, and tissue donation; are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant; and those who died waiting because an organ was not donated in time.

How can I get involved?

• Register to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor – https://registerme.org
• View Donate to Life America Tribute Wall (features posts from loved ones honoring donors) – https://www.donatelife.net/tribute-wall/
• View Stories of Hope (features inspiring stories of donors and recipients) – https://www.donatelife.net/stories/

Source: https://www.donatelife.net/celebrations/national-donor-day/

MAHA SHIVARATRI

Hindus observe Maha Shivaratri, also known as Padmarajarathri or 'The Great Night of Shiva', annually as a festival to honor Lord Shiva. Devotees do various religious activities in order to please Lord Shiva on this day, including worshipping him and observing a strict fast. A person is also believed to be blessed with Moksha or salvation if he or she pleases Lord Shankara on Shivaratri day.

On this day, Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. Shiva is said to have entered deep meditation after Sati died. Sati reincarnated as Parvati to become the consort of Lord Shiva. As a result, Mahashivratri marks the union of Shiva and Parvati on the 14th of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalguna.



Maha Shivratri 2023 will be celebrated on Saturday, February 18th.

Maha Shivratri is the most important of the 12 Shivratris celebrated in a year and is celebrated in February or March, depending on the position of the planets. Every month, Shivratri falls on the 14th day of the month, one day before the new moon.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/when-is-maha-shivratri-in-2023-date-significance-and-all-you-need-to-know-2319250-2023-01-09