Throughout the month, Disney will honor and ‘give flowers’ of recognition to creators, storytellers, and magic makers for their contributions to culture
The Walt Disney Company is committed to celebrating and inspiring a more inclusive world through the creation of authentic stories, experiences and products that capture the imagination of all people.
Disney is celebrating Black heritage throughout the month of February and beyond by shining a light on Black stories and voices across the company, and honoring the creativity and resilience of Black creators, storytellers, and magic makers.
“This Black History Month, we’re recognizing our employees, storytellers, artists, and community leaders. By giving them their flowers, we are showing appreciation to those whose contributions to the culture inspire us all,” said Tinisha Agramonte, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, The Walt Disney Company.
Join Disney in celebrating the month in a variety of ways.
Celebrate Black Stories across Disney Entertainment and ESPN
— Kick off the heritage celebration by tuning into Disney+ January 31 to see Choir, a 6-part documentary series following the kids of the Detroit Youth Choir as they prepare for the performance of a lifetime on one of the world’s biggest stages.
— Catch an encore presentation of the award-winning Soul of a Nation docu-special “X/onerated: The Murder of Malcolm X and 55 Years to Justice” on ABC News and Hulu on February 1.
— Explore the formative years of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X in the two-episode premiere of Genius: MLK/X, premiering on National Geographic on February 1, and a special simulcast on ABC. Stream on Disney+ and Hulu beginning February 2.
— “Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez,” which follows the lives of married WWE superstars Bianca Belair and Montez Ford, both in and outside of the ring, will stream on Hulu beginning February 2.
— Join the journey of self-discovery in the Pixar SparkShort Self, streaming on Disney+ on February 2.
— Celebrate Black girl magic as season two of Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur hits Disney Channel on February 2 and Disney+ on February 3.
— ABC Owned Television Stations presents “Our America: In the Black,” a thought-provoking documentary special chronicling the efforts of Microsoft Philanthropies specialist Darrell Booker in his national quest to raise awareness about building financial health and wellness in the Black community. In the special, Booker explores how technology can serve as a great equalizer to mitigate these disparities while engaging with individuals who are actively working toward financial literacy programs that pave the way for economic mobility and generational wealth creation. The documentary will make its linear debut on February 3 and stream across ABC Owned Television Stations’ platforms and on Hulu’s Black Stories Always hub.
— As part of Hulu’s “Black Stories Always” campaign, explore extensive film and TV content showcasing the talents of Black creators through the platform’s “Black Stories Always” hub. Titles include FX’s “Snowfall,” Andscape’s “Cypher,” Onyx Collective’s “Reasonable Doubt” and Emmy-award-winning “The 1619 Project,” fan-favorites including “The Bernie Mac Show,” “My Wife and Kids,” “The Wonder Years” (2021) and beloved film “Soul Food.” This year marks the iconic anniversaries of “Family Matters” (35 years), “Sister, Sister” (30 years) and “Black-ish” (10 years), as well as the 10th anniversary of the Academy Award-winning film “12 Years A Slave.”
— Prepare for the next semester of Abbott Elementary in season three of the Emmy-award-winning sitcom, premiering February 7 on ABC and streaming on February 8 on Hulu. Seasons one and two are now available to stream on Hulu.
— Launch into the universe of The Space Race, which uncovers the little-known stories of the first Black pilots, engineers, scientists, and astronauts, including trailblazers Guion Bluford, Ed Dwight and Charles Bolden, premiering February 12 on National Geographic and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu beginning February 13.
— Don’t miss Andscape’s new documentary feature “Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story,” which shines a spotlight on one of America’s oldest Black boarding schools; stream it February 23 on Hulu.
— Andscape will highlight stories on Black athletes, from groundbreaking trailblazers who shattered racial barriers to modern-day sports icons, through a daily series of short-form profiles narrated by rising influencers.
— Experience all six episodes of the all-new animated series Iwájú, streaming on Disney+ beginning February 28. Set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, the series represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pan-African entertainment company Kugali.
— Relive the joyful stories that celebrate Black heritage, from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” to “Hidden Figures” and “black-ish,” as part of the Black Stories collection on Disney+.
— Follow ESPN on Instagram throughout February as they bring forward the untold stories of Black athletes and more in sports.
Visit Disney Parks and Celebrate Soulfully
— Celebrate Soulfully is a year-long ode to honoring Black heritage and culture through soul-stirring food, vibrant art, music, style, and talent at Disney Parks, with special limited-time offerings during Black History Month.
— Visit Disneyland Resort® to savor, vibe and experience the celebration of culture. Get uplifted at Celebrate Gospel with gospel greats Marvin Sapp on February 17 and Tasha Cobbs Leonard on February 24. Celebrate the magic of storytelling with Princess Tiana at New Orleans Square, meet Moon Girl in Disney California Adventure Park® and other beloved characters across Disneyland Resort®; Celebrate Black stories at exhibits starring American heroes Frederick Douglass, Floyd Norman, and Nikkolas Smith; and explore the Celebrate Soulfully guide of specialty food and beverage items all around the resort.
— Visit Walt Disney World® Resort to see the great by-products of Black creatives, a myriad of Black-owned businesses, culinary artists, and talented cast members. Enjoy the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, featuring the artistic designs of Black artists, Ryan Riller (February 12-19), Yesenia Moises (February 13-19), and Larissa Marantz (February 14-19). While there, check out the Disney on Broadway Concert Series featuring L. Steven Taylor, Kissy Simmons, Bradley Gibson, and Michael James Scott, who will be Magic Kingdom’s honorary Grand Marshal during a Celebrate Soulfully pre-parade on February 6. And don’t forget the characters that are in the parks every day! Be sure to meet and greet with Asha from the new film “Wish” at EPCOT, Ariel from the live action film “The Little Mermaid” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the beloved Princess Tiana at Magic Kingdom. While shopping and dining across property, stop at Disney Springs to experience the Disney Springs Art Walk: Canvas of Expression to see art work year round from Black artists Ernest Shaw, Nneka Jones, and Nardstar. And stay on the lookout for the new live painting installation by Marci Swett, taking place on the Disney Springs Art Walk February 11-15.
— Just in time for Black History Month, a new limited-release Princess Tiana tiara pin created by Disney Imagineer Brittany L. Smith will be available at select locations in Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland Resort® and on shopDisney.com. Be sure to seek out opportunities to learn more about Iwájú creators at Walt Disney World’s Art of Disney, limited-time Iwájú merchandise at Disneyland Resort®, and an opportunity to experience Black-owned businesses and their product inspirations throughout property.
Additional Magic
— Tune into Marvel’s “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Season 2 Original Soundtrack” from Walt Disney Records, set for release on February 2, featuring 12 songs from the new season.
— Celebrity chef Tanya Holland will create culinary offerings on Disney Wish — the newest ship to join the Disney Cruise Line family. Known for her inventive take on modern soul food, as well as comfort classics, Holland’s new menu elements will be introduced in February.
— Enjoy the sounds of Black culture through a curated playlist from Disney Music Group.
— Throughout the month, employee spotlights will be featured across Disney social accounts, including Life at Disney blog, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN on LinkedIn, @ReimagineTomorrow and @DisneyontheYard on Instagram, ReimagineTomorrow@Disney.com, and more.
— Round out Black History Month on February 29 at HBCU Night with the Orlando Magic, featuring a special appearance from Drum Major Mickey Mouse.
Celebrate Black Heritage by Empowering Communities
— Learn more about how Disney Future Storytellers, Disney’s commitment to empowering the next generation of storytellers and innovators, is helping to inspire the next generation of Black talent to dream about their future, build their talent and skills, and become who they imagine they can be.
— Meet the 2024 Disney UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Corporate Scholars in conjunction with Andscape, National Geographic, and FX. The four industry-aligned scholarship pathways include:
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- The Walt Disney Company / UNCF Enhanced Corporate Scholars Program
- Andscape Rhoden Fellows
- National Geographic HBCU Media Scholarship Program
- FXStorytelling Legacy Scholarship
