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10 Inspirational and Cool Black History Month Shirt Ideas

Written by Winnie Nyokabi

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Reading time for 7 min

We can all agree that the black community owns the word ‘cool’ in the United States of America. This is through their diverse culture, history, and role in the country. Black history is one of the rich histories designated to celebrate the community’s rich culture. Here, all Americans can enjoy African-American delicacies, fashion, and interactions.

If you’re a DIY enthusiast, this is your opportunity to explore different black history month shirt ideas. Considering the community’s history, you’re spoilt for options. You can reference black power movers, famous athletes, and unique quotes.

Is this your first time trying DIY shirt crafts? Here are some ideas to get you started. Let's get into it!

Celebrate Black Activists and Heroes

Dark-colored people have faced their share deal of discrimination throughout the years. Saving them from the years of anguish were specific individuals who showcased great courage, valor, and passion. For example, Malcolm X, Martin Luther J, and Rosa Parks are great shirt prints. Here is an in-depth look at the black historical heroes and how they grace your DIY shirt crafts. 

1. Malcolm X Black History Shirt Idea

Malcolm is amongst the most iconic black heroes, helping push equality within races in the United States. Through his heroic endeavors, he offers multiple creative black history month shirt ideas. For instance, you can print him while addressing a crowd of protestors. Here are other Malcolm X DIY shirt ideas:

 By Any Means Necessary Shirt:  Malcolm wanted black people to achieve freedom by any means. Therefore, you can print him holding a gun to portray the message. Also, add the quote to emphasize the shirt’s design.

The Malcolm X pose

Malcolm X mugshot: This helps show the struggle he had to go through before gaining liberation.

Malcolm X ‘Best Enemies’ shirt: Include Malcolm X's image combined with that of his enemy and former mentor, Elijah Muhammad.

It would be best to print these images in black and white. Also, use a white vinyl shirt to make the DIY craft pop in public. 

Pictured is a shirt with Malcolm X Black History shirt.

2. Martin Luther King Jr. Shirt Ideas

It wouldn't be a black history without mentioning Martin Luther and his famous quote of “I Have a Dream!” Like Malcolm X, he offers multiple DIY shirt prints, including one when giving his famous speech. Also, famous phrases should be added in cool fonts like 3D prints.

You can download additional Martin Luther images from the internet. To personalize the photos, explore methods like animating or black-and-white features. Also, you include a gun in remembrance of his assassination. 

Pictured is a shirt with Martin Luther King, Jr.

3. Shirley Chisholm Vinyl Black Month History Shirt Designs

Gaining freedom was an all-inclusive activity where women also played a big role. Shirley Chisholm is a perfect example. She was the first black woman to join Congress and also seek a presidential nomination ticket. Impressive, right?

Considering how women were treated in the 1900s and before, celebrating her on Black History Month isn’t enough either. Nonetheless, you can celebrate her achievement by animating her photos in Congress or addressing the public. A simple idea is using DTG printing to get a quality portrait on a vinyl shirt. 

Pictured here is Shirley Chisholm vinyl Black Month History shirt.

4. Rosa Parks: One-Woman Bus Protestor

Rosa Parks is a living icon as a civil rights activist, and through her work, to help the marginalized, like the homeless. If you haven’t heard of her, Rsa Parks is the famous woman who refused to give up her seat just because of her race. This sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and forced the Supreme Court to declare discrimination on public transport as unconstitutional.

Therefore, feel proud as a woman rocking a Rosa Parks shirt and possibly emulate her unmatchable resilience against oppression. On your prints, add a bold ‘NO’ to show how she dared to say no to the ruling and superior group in the society.

Also, include the photo or phrase that includes Claudette Colvin. She was a 15-year-old who had refused to give up her seat 9 months prior to the Rosa Parks incident. 

Pictured here is Rosa Parks Single bus protester t-shirt.

5. Black Panther Shirt Design Ideas

No, we’re not talking about the Marvel production. The Black Panther Movement was a revolutionary group between 1966 and 1982. It fought for black nationalism and socialism and, particularly, was against police brutality.

Black Panther shirt ideas include those of the founders, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. They portrayed fearless zeal and became role models to many activists to date. Therefore, these are excellent DIY shirt sales for teenagers and adults who recognize the history of Black Panther.

Others include a cartoon photo of the Black Panther animal plus the quote“Black Panther Movement.” Also, explore the group’s pretest photos, especially when they went head-to-head against the police in various cities in California. 

Pictured is a man wearing a black history t-shirt.

Black Month History Shirt Quote Ideas

Like the images, multiple quote ideas can help you design excellent black Month History shirts. Continue reading to discover these options. 

6. Sarcastic and Creative Black Month History Quotes

No, you won’t be making fun of the black month. These quotes involve creating awareness of the significance of celebrating black culture every day. They include the following:

“One Month Isn’t Enough to Celebrate the Black Culture.

"Black History is Every Day."

"Black History is Not Just a Month, It’s a Movement."

“One Month Can’t Hold Our History.”

“We’ll Need 11 More Months To Celebrate Black Excellence.” 

“One Month Only, Really!?”

“Nop, I’m Gonna Sit in the Front Today.” (Rosa Parks)

Therefore, include witty quotes and attach them to various black civil rights activists. Also, explore cool and symbolic colors to make the quotes stand out. 

Pictured is a Black History t-shirt.

7. Motivational Black Month History Shirt Phrases

The black month has some of the most memorable and motivating quote ideas. Here are some examples to use on your DIY vinyl shirt prints:

"Our History, Our Strength, Our Future."


"Rooted in Resilience, Rising in Power."

"Black History is American History."

"Celebrate the Past, Empower the Present, Inspire the Future."

"We Are the Dreamers of the Dream."

"Honor the Legacy, Continue the Journey."

"Black Excellence: Past, Present, and Forever."

"Unapologetically Black, Unstoppably Proud."

"Freedom, Justice, Equality: The Fight Continues."

"We Built This Nation, We Define Its Future."

"From Struggle to Strength, From Pain to Power."

Quite exhilarating, aren’t they? You can combine these quotes with creative images. Worry less; the following section examines the top Black Month History symbolism images. 

Pictured are two children wearing Black History t-shirts.

8. Black Month Symbolic Images

Symbolic images include signs used in protests and boycotts. They help communicate strong messages without uttering a word. Therefore, they help cancel those who still discriminate against others racially. Below are excellent symbols to use for HTVRont shirt prints:

Fist in the Air

In the context of Black History Month, the raised fist celebrates Black pride, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality. It honors the sacrifices of those who fought for civil rights and inspires future generations to continue the work.

Place the raised fist in the center of the shirt. Include details like African patterns or colors of the Pan-African flag (red, black, and green) to emphasize cultural pride.

Afro Hair 

"Afro Hair" for a Black History Month shirt is a powerful way to celebrate Black beauty, identity, and cultural pride. The symbol represents resilience, self-love, and the rejection of Eurocentric beauty standards. Here are various to design an afro print on your DIY Black Month History shirt designs:

Position an afro design at the center of the shirt and add a crown.

Silhouette Design: Use a silhouette of a person with a large, voluminous Afro, filled with African prints, stars, or abstract designs. Also, experiment by including black-related phrases like “Black Excellence” or “Black Power.” 

Retro Vibes: Incorporate a 70s-inspired design with bold colors and peace signs.

Wearing these symbolic shirt designs means celebrating Black history, beauty, and the ongoing journey toward equality and self-love. 

Pictured here is a  T shirt about Black History.

Celebrate Influential Black People in the Community

From athletes to movie stars, and entrepreneurs, the list of successful black people is endless. Below are some of the influential you can experiment with your shirt prints. 

9. George Floyd

George Floyd’s death was one of the related deaths inflicted by the police. It sparked protests globally and forced the authorities to set strict measures for perpetrators. You can print Floyd’s portrait or creatively design an animation where the former police and now convict kneels on his neck. Remember to add Floyd’s last words,“I Can’t Breathe.

Additionally, include other victims of police brutality together with Floyd’s photo. This will help create awareness of the ongoing discrimination by the police towards African Americans. 

Pictured here is a portrait t-shirt of George Floyd.

10. Athletes

The U.S.A. wouldn’t be on the top list of major global competitions like the Olympics. Black athletes like Lebron James have helped the U.S.A. win multiple gold medals, while sprinters like Tyson Gay and Alyson Felix have dominated track events. Therefore, go ahead and print their images and include quotes like, “We’re this Powerful, How Did They Make Us Slaves?

You must include An iconic athlete image of Tommie Smith, and John Carlos raised hand images during the 1968 Mexico Olympics. 

This picture shows a black history related t-shirt.

Black History Month is here, but we can all agree that every day is black. Not literally, of course! To have the best month, the explained ideas can help get the shirt prints. Don’t just stop at these prints. More options include more customized quotes and exploring other black civil rights activists and celebrities like Denzel Washington.

Crafters often find inspiration and downloads for a wide array of free SVG files at loklikworkshop.com, enhancing their creative projects. Enjoy your DIY Black Month History shirt craftspeople!