We often forget, due to the lovely buzz of Valentine's Day, that February is Black History Month.
Hearts, candies and cards are always lovely but lest we forget some iconic figures that have paved ways for revolution and equality for people of all colors. These Black History Month innovations range from beautiful art to social justice serving ads that what do great historical figures like Martin Luther King proud. These innovations also educate and inspire those unaware of some figures like Nelson Mandela and all that they've done for the cause they were most certainly passionate about.
Next month, take a moment to reflect on great historic moments.
16 Black History Month Innovations
From History Making Shoe Sets to Pixelated Tribute Art:
Malika Renee Butss — Jan 24, 2014 — Social Good

16
Historical Figure Contribution Ads
These TED Ads Efficiently Show the Effect of Ideas

15
Historical Hand-Made Knives
Nelson Mandela’s Former Chopper Pilot Now Makes Crafty Custom Kn

14
Historically Pertinent Sports Gear
Nike Black History Month Collection Celebrates Success
13
Anti-Discriminatory Adverts
Ads for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Remind Us of His Triumph
12
History-Making Shoe Sets
The Nike Black History Month Pack Pays Homage to Trailblazing Ballers
11
Activist Shower Accessories
The Martin Loofah King Exfoliating Glove Mixes History with Hygiene
10
Splattered Soul Portraits
Corrado Grilli Thinks it's Grand 'To Be Young, Gifted and Black'
9
Pixelated Tribute Art
This Nelson Mandela Tribute by Guy Whitby Pushes the Right Buttons
8
Black Icon Campaigns
The O Povo Celebrate Equality Ads Focus on Historical Figures
7
Symbolic Clothing Designs
Lupe Fiasco's Trilly & Truly 2010 Collection Speaks for Itself
6
Activist Birthday Kicks
Supra Vaider 'MLK' Celebrates the Iconic Figure's Life
5
Mod Historic Apparel
The Nike Black History Destroyer Jacket is Fierce
4
Incredible Iconic Portraits
Peter Fecteau Creates a MLK Potrait Using Rubik's Cubes
3
Reinvented Social Histories
The 'Mandela Story' Video Re-imagines the Icon with Social Media
2
Historical Snow Sport Equipments
The Great Dudes of History Snowboards Features Important Figures
1
Hero Eulogy Photographs
George Qua-Enoo Photographs South Africans Holding Messages for Mandela
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Valentine's Day-Themed Luxury Fashion
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Retro Chrome-Detailed Sneakers
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General Mills Unveils its Valentine's Day Line Across Multiple Brands
Romantic Low-Cut Sneakers
Nike Readies its New 'Valentine's Day' Silhouette for the 2024 Season
Earthy Tonal Timeless Sneakers
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Sneaker-Inspired Card Holders
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Nike's Valentine's Day 2025 Sneakers are a Bold Break-Up Statement
90's Archival Footwear Pop-Ups
Dr. Martens Hosted a 'Buzz Bus' in NYC
Holiday-Honoring Pastel Sneakers
Nike Celebrates with an Easter Colorway of the Air Force 1
Minimal Contrasting Basketball Shoes
The Nike Air Jordan 14 Sneaker Model Gets a Black Toe Version
Chic Cruelty-Free Footwear Designs
Stella Mccartney Debuts the 10th Anniversary Elyse Platform
Superhero-Inspired Vibrant Footwear
Nike Delivers the Air Jordan 1 in a Next Chapter Colorway
Chic Festival-Ready Footwear
adidas' Icons are Festival and Spring-Forward Sneakers
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Nike Unveils a Treat Yourself Colorway of the Air Jordan 3
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Vivaia's New Shoe Capsule is Inspired by the 2024 Olympics
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Montblanc's Great Characters Collector Line Celebrate Muhammad Ali
Crackled Holiday-Inspired Shoes
Nike Debuts the Dunk Low and Air Force 1 in 'Halloween' Iterations
Brand Heritage-Appreciation Campaigns
Timberlands Racy 'ICONIC' Campaign Honours Its Legacy
Synthetic Leather Lifestyle Sneakers
Nike Adds a New Air Max Pulse to its Have a Nike Day Series
Monochrome Sophisticated Apparel
The Blvck Paris x Keith Haring Capsule Offers Dynamic Artistry
Inspiring Role Model Dolls
Barbie Role Models Celebrate Women from Around the World
Individuality-Focused Brand Campaigns
Adidas Originals' New Campaign Champions Timeless Classics
Social Account-Joined Sneaker Models
Hartcopy Joins adidas on a Collaborative HW Army Sneaker
Deep Blue Lifestyle Sneakers
Nike's Air Max Force 1 Low Evo Gets a Team Royal Colorway
Undefined Relationship Candies
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Olympic-Inspired Skate Sneakers
The Nike SB Dunk Olympic Safari Honors the Global Games
Anniversary-Honoring Hybrid Footwear
Foot Locker's TN 25th Celebration Honors its 25th Anniversary
Vibrant Festive Basketball Shoes
Nike Presents the New KD17 Christmas Sneaker Model
Student-Designed Footwear Collections
Dr. Martens and Central Saint Martins Join Forces in 2023
Casual Red-Tonal Shoes
adidas Embraces Valentine's Day with a Red Shoes and Clothing Edit
Valentine's Day Cafe Collections
The Dunkin’ Valentine's Day Range Includes Treats and Merch
Sneaker Fused Ceramic Exhibitions
Roberto Lugo Presents the Drip Exhibition in New York
Hispanic Heritage Month Sneakers
The Nike Familia Collection Includes the Air Max 1 and Pegasus 40
Vibrant Caribbean-Inspired Collections
Adidas MAS NATION Draws Cues from the Caribbean Lifestyle
Heritage-Honoring Boot Collaborations
SOLDIER Presents a New Timberland 6-Inch Boot
Urban Sneaker-Inspired Exhibits
Museum of Graffiti Introduces the Sneaker Stories Pop-Up Exhibit
Pastel-Colored Valentine’s Day Footwear
The HEYDUDE x Sweethearts Collection Features Candy Prints
Star Motif Performance Footwear
Nike Introduces the New All-Star 2.0 of the Kobe 6 Protro
Branded Newspaper Kiosks
New Balance's Grey Days Pop-Up Celebrates a Timeless, Universal Color
Sculptural Shoe Activations
Briony Douglas Created a Striking Sculpture Exhibit for Browns Shoes
Basketball-Honoring Clogs
The NBA x Crocs Classic Clog All-Star Marks the 2025 All-Star Weekend
Iconic Shoe Campaigns
Amina Muaddi's Fall/Winter 2023 Campaign Ushers in 'New Icons'
Gratitude-Giving Sneakers
The LA Bike Life Crew Handed Out Pairs of the Air Jordan XI Retro
Valentine's Day-Themed Footwear Campaigns
BEARPAW Launched Its Cozy Valentine’s Lookbook
Romanticized Shoe Designs
The MadeMe x Dr. Martens 1461 Quad Shoe Has a Heart of Steel
Puerto Rico-Inspired Sneakers
Nike's Air Max 1 Series Celebrates National Puerto Rico Day
Romantic Sneaker Releases
The Aldo Heartstep Low-top Sneaker is Valentine's Day-Themed
Graffiti Artist-Made Rare Sneakers
Nike and Stash Breathe Life Back to Retro Sneaker Models
80s-Inspired 16-Bit Display Devices
Ahmed Esmael Designs a New Range of Retro Device Concepts
Festive New Year-Inspired Sneakers
New Balance Presents Two New 991 Sneaker Variations
Colorful Collaborative Tech Sneakers
Jae Tips and Saucony Unveil the To Do List Collection
Fashion-Forward Lifestyle Sneakers
Valentino Garavani Unveils a New Pair of Premium Sneakers
Collaborative Textural Lifestyle Sneakers
New Balance Presents Another Technical 1906 Sneaker
Maximalist Pop Art Sneakers
Keiichi Tanaami Joins adidas On a Pair of its Superstars
Artistic Pride Month Desserts
The Keith Haring x Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Arrives June 1
Dessert-Inspired Collaborative Shoes
Randomevent and New Balance Join on Sweetness of Kin Shoe
Artist-Inspired Dynamic Basketballs
round21 Designs Basketballs Inspired by Basquiat and Haring
Fitness Earphones Campaigns
'Listen to Your Heart' Unites Sports Icons for Powerful Campaign
Holiday-Ready Footwear Collections
Dr. Martens’ Holiday Collection is Timeless and Striking
Heroic Luxury Footwear
The Christian Louboutin x Marvel Collab Unleashes Super Stylish Footwear
Dynamic Art Exhibitions
The 'Art in Motion' Exhibition Features Moving Artworks
Lunar New Year-Inspired Noteboooks
Moleskine Adds New Designs to the 3 Artists, 3 Countries Series
Board Game-Themed Fashions
The Shoe Palace x Monopoly Collection Includes an Array of Styles
Artful Diverse Gaming Backgrounds
The Xbox Celebrates Collection Honors Cultural Heritage
Korean Culture-Inspired Apparel
Bonchon Unveils Exclusive Shirts Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
Celebrity-Inspired Cocktail Menus
The Quote Book by Velvet Bar Shares Drinks Based on Icons
Custom Inspirational Quotes
Muse Combines Quotes with Creative Themes for Social Media
Festive Tonal Basketball Sneakers
Nike Introduces the Ja 2 in a Heart Eyes Colorway
Bronx Childhood-Inspired Sneakers
Jae Tips and Saucony Present the To Do List Collection
Athlete-Collaborative Vibrant Footwear
Lionel Messi and adidas Join Forces to Drop Bright Sambas
Artisanal Romanticism Chocolates
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Education-Supporting Beauty Brands
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Roberto Lugo's 'Drip' Explores the Impact of the AF1 on Culture
Singer-Collaborative High-Top Sneakers
Teyana Taylor is Getting Her Own Design of the AJ1
Footwear Heritage-Honoring Fashion
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London-Inspired Sporty Campaigns
Nike Presents the Pulse of London Campaign Honoring the City
Basketball-Honoring Sneakers
Reebok and Victor Solomon Join Forces on Bb 4000 li Basketball Shoes
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Yinka Ilori Debuts Projects at ART on THE MART & NeoCon
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Rapper-Honoring Skate Sneakers
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Traveling Family-Focused Campaigns
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Mother-Themed Hat Designs
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Hispanic Heritage-Inspired Recipes
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Canada-Inspired Lifestyle Footwear
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Foot Locker Gears Up for Nike Air Max Day with Exclusive Releases
Artwork-Adorned Collaborative Boots
TATE and Dr. Martens Celebrate Ithell Colquhoun's Work
Playful Valentine's Day Gifts
The Clever Candy 2024 Valentine’s Day Collection Has Been Unveiled
Themed Heart-Shaped Chips
Japanese Snack Brand Calbee Unviels its Valentine's Day Chips
Retro Archival Chunky Sneakers
adidas Revives Its Harlem Sneakers After Four Decades
Artist-Designed Leather Boots
Dr. Martens Launches a New Boot Silhouette with Artist Loveis Wise
Nostalgic Art-Inspired Postal Stamps
The New USPS Stamps Celebrate Art and Pop Culture
Textural Festive Sneaker Collections
adidas Presents the Dynamic Día de Muertos Collection
Black LGBTQ+-Honoring Exhibitions
Beau McCall's Solo Exhibition Will Kickstart Pride Month
Anniversary-Honoring Graphic T-Shirts
Places+Faces Launch Collaboration Tees for 10 Years
Fashion Collaborative Sneaker Models
CLOT and adidas Join Forces Once Again on a SS24 Series
AAPI-Honoring Art Exhibitions
The Upon Further Reflection Show Celebrates the AAPI Community
Heart-Shaped Valentine’s Day Chocolates
Gardners Candies Boasts Original Peanut Butter Meltaways
Expansive Valentine's Treat Ranges
The Mars Valentine's Day Products are Here for 2024
Creativity-Celebrating Week-Long Campaigns
Crayola Education Will Kick Off Crayola Creativity Week
Prideful Modernist Tech Collections
The Apple 2025 Pride Collection Marks Pride Month in Style
College Campus Haircare Campaigns
African Pride and Impressions of Beauty Partnered on a Campaign
Romance-Inspired Comfortable Footwear
HEYDUDE Offers Unique Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts
Expanded Simplistic Mid Sneakers
The Air Jordan 3 Sneaker Gets a Rare Air Edition
Black History Month Markets
Blair&jack is Part of the Up Express Black History Month Market
Inclusive Romance-Inspired Activations
Generation Love Presented the Giving Love Campaign
Interactive AR Galleries
Chips Ahoy's Happy By Design Campaign Spotlights Multicultural Artists
Black Heritage-Inspired Campaigns
Converse Launches the Black Joy Campaign and Collection for 2024
Pride Month Football Collections
The NFL Pride Month Capsule Was Created with Humberto Leon
Inclusive Valentine's Day Gifts
Hallmark's Valentine's Day Range Has Gifts for Friends and Family
Nostalgic NFC-Enabled Sneakers
Puma’s Limited-Edition RS-XL Sneakers Link to Exclusive Content
London Creative Loafer Campaigns
G.H. Bass Taps Creatives for the Stepping Out Campaign
Inclusion-Focused Design Partnerships
Barbie's New Initative Spotlights Black Designers for BHM
Red Velvet-Inspired Tonal Sneakers
The Air Jordan 11 Gets a New Bred Velvet Colorway Palette
Cultural Social Media Documentaries
Hulu Unveils the Black Lives Matter: A People's History Doc
Vibrant Celebrity Icon Collections
The 'Bedsure x Iconic Collection' Pays Homage to Marilyn Monroe
AAPI Heritage-Honoring Exhibitions
3.1 Phillip Lim Presents the Crafting Selfhood Exhibition
Athlete-Joined High Fashion Capsules
Dior and Lewis Hamilton Explores Afrofuturism Themes
Daily History Reminders
Today in History Offers a Fascinating Glimpse into Past Historical Events
Artful Patriotic Collaborative Loafers
Denim Tears and Dr. Martens Join on the Union Black Loafers
Heritage Month Sports Campaigns
ESPN's 'Somos' Campaign Celebrates Hispanic Sports Icons
History-Honoring Vibrant Coins
The Royal Canadian Mint Engages with the History of Making Change