From Instagram to the White House to the everyday household, the Because of Them We Can (BOTWC) campaign has come full circle. In 2013, Eunique Jones Gibson launched the Instagram campaign (@BecauseOfThem) during Black History Month, featuring photos of kids dressed as African American historical and contemporary figures such as Janelle Monae, Langston Hughes and Rosa Parks. Since then, BOTWC has evolved into a platform, community and, now, a subscription box that allows kids to deepen their connection to history makers. A mother of three, Jones Gibson was honored by the White House as a “Champion of Change” after her viral Instagram campaign, then created a coffee-table book of the same name. Next came the subscription box, which garnered thousands of orders from around the world in just 60 days. “The box transition came as a result of us wanting to touch young people and give them a unique way to learn their history and give them an opportunity to participate,” says Jones Gibson.
Kids can use the branded apparel, educational activities and props in each box to transform into a trailblazer and leader, or learn about an organization or movement and its cultural impact. The campaign’s focus is on giving children of all races “…a greater appreciation and respect for their peers, for their teachers and for their community,” Jones Gibson says. “The more we’re educated on the impact and significance and the power of the black community, the better we’ll all be.”
The February box features Carter G. Woodson, “father of Black History Month,” and comes with a letter from Dr. Bernice King, who was just 5 when her father, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was killed. Jones Gibson includes current trailblazers, in addition to those from the past, throughout the year. “Black history is being made daily. Everyone in the box won’t be old or deceased. There will be some living history makers that we highlight, and they will speak directly to the kids in the form of a letter or charge,” she says.
Boxes are available for ages 5-8 and 9-12, with monthly membership starting at $35. Sign up at botwcbox.com and use code LAPARENT to save $10 on your first box.
