Celebrating Alysa Liu, Ramzan, and Black History Month

February 25, 2026 • Read in 6 minutes

Dear Hyphenly Readers,

In last week’s edition, I talked about how the month of February feels energizing and uplifting. There’s an optimism in the air and that is reflected in our Immigrantly episodes as well. This week just proves my theory more. 

Liu winning has tremendously positive effects for anyone participating in an athletic career. She’s used her platform to bring attention to good mental health practices and self-care. Her whimsical spirit and inspiring comeback had everyone rooting for her. 

Liu’s push towards self-care is reflected this month in many other ways too. This month is celebrated as the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Ramadan is a month of fasting, service, and communal gathering. 

When Saadia and I were talking about this holy month, we both called it Ramzan, pronouncing it with the Urdu spelling rather than the Arabic. For anyone who is not a part of the Indian subcontinent, this niche linguistic debate may not be on your radar. To learn more about Ramadan, or Ramzan, I recommend this article published on Scroll by Rizwan Ahmad. 

But how does one observe Ramzan while working full-time? This is what Saadia explores in her latest Substack post:

“There’s something about breaking your fast that makes the whole day make sense. By iftar, the hunger has done its job; it’s shifted from personal discomfort to something outward. You think about people who don’t have a sunset to wait for. That’s the whole point of it, really. The fast isn’t just physical. It’s a reminder to stay humble and aware of how much you have.”

Outside of Ramzan, Americans are also observing Black History Month. 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. What began as Negro History Week in 1926 has turned into a full month-long celebration.

Black History Month is often associated with familiar icons. Think Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, and so on. But there’s many facets of Black art and resistance that don’t come into the public eye.

I think about this documentary I watched years ago called !Women, Art, Revolution.

The film begins with a scene outside the Whitney Museum of American Art where the director asks museum-goers to name three women artists. Most people cannot name even one. I think this question is just as relevant with a single tweak: name three Black artists. Would we be successful in answering this question?

Jean-Michel Basquiat, at the age of 22, became the youngest to exhibit at the Whitney Biennial. He was a neo-expressionist who focused on dichotomies such as wealth vs poverty or segregation vs integration. By the age of 27 he had died of a heroin overdose in Manhattan.

Margaret Taylor-Burroughs was an American visual artist known for co-founding the DuSable Museum of African American History and establishing the South Side Community Art Center. She is known for her linocuts and her expression of the Black experience.

There are a lot of complex debates around celebrating Black History Month. Does it whitewash the history of black people in America? Can such a diverse experience be flattened to a single month? Does this celebration feel performative when black people continue to face racism and neglect in this country?

There is a lot to be said about the commercialization of pain and trauma, but we can do better. It can be as simple as learning about more black artists and making a conscious effort to buy from black-owned businesses. Looking to learn more? This month, I’m reading Beloved by Toni Morrison, one of my favorite authors. Join me?

Until next time,

Team Hyphenly

This newsletter was curated by Suhasini Patni.

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Hyphenly curates the latest news, art, and businesses from immigrants around the world. Have a tip or story we should feature? We’d love to hear from you.

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