Black History Month, Meet the Compassion Movement: A New Way to Celebrate Black History

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Jan. 21, 2014 - PRLog -- Beginning February 1^st, 2014, there’s a new game in town when it comes to participating in Black History Month. From February 1^st to March 2^nd, the name of the game is compassionate action. “We’ve come so far. But there’s still work to do. There’s a place for TV specials, school plays and organized action, but just as important are the little actions we take, day in and day out” says author, Rahbin Shyne.  Celebrating a History of Compassion is not just the newest installment in the Compassion Series books, she hopes it will be a call to compassionate action in communities everywhere.

The month long event gives tribute to the accomplishments of the past by encouraging small compassionate actions each day. By month’s end, participants will have completed 30 acts of compassion and studied sixty-five African-Americans embodying the idea that we each have the power to change the world in big and small ways. When asked why she chose to marry a compassion game with Black History Month, she added,  “This is a movement for the new century. Compassion counters violence, stands against poverty and allows communities to thrive.”

Each day’s action will post to the Celebrating a History of Compassion Facebook page at 7am Pacific time beginning February 1^st. Quotes on compassion from history-making African-Americans will post each morning and evening, linked to biographic pages. Inspired by Seattle’s city-wide Compassion Games in September, “Celebrating a History of Compassion” references the rich heritage of compassion found in Black History. “This is an opportunity to do more than study the heroic African-Americans who’ve made history: It’s a chance to follow in their footsteps, one day, one small action at a time,” said Donna Carey, MD, pediatrician and First Lady of True Vine Ministries. “Compassionate action brings the spirit of Black History Month into our daily lives.” True Vine Ministries will host the kick-off event which will be attended by members of various Bay Area organizations.

“The abolition of slavery, integration, and The Civil Rights Movement are all movements rooted in compassion,” says Rahbin Shyne. “These movements succeeded because men and women of all colors, and all ages took actions, small and large, that transformed our society.” Likewise, people of all ages and colors can participate in the February compassion game. The month long compassion game kicks off at True Vine Ministries in Oakland, CA on January 31^st at 6:30pm.

Like Seattle’s annual Compassion Games, Shyne predicts this, too, will become an annual event which grows exponentially over time. Anyone interested in an advance copy of each day’s actions and the compilation of African-American history-makers can find them in the digital and print editions of her book, “Celebrating a History of Compassion.”

Rahbin Shyne is the author of several books on compassionate action and teaches civics, economics, law in Long Beach, CA.