diff --git a/adafruit_display_text/label.py b/adafruit_display_text/label.py
index 93674e2..b188459 100644
--- a/adafruit_display_text/label.py
+++ b/adafruit_display_text/label.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class Label(displayio.Group):
        :param int color: Color of all text in RGB hex
        :param double line_spacing: Line spacing of text to display"""
     def __init__(self, font, *, x=0, y=0, text=None, max_glyphs=None, color=0xffffff,
-                 line_spacing=1.25, **kwargs):
+                 background_color=None, line_spacing=1.25, **kwargs):
         if not max_glyphs and not text:
             raise RuntimeError("Please provide a max size, or initial text")
         if not max_glyphs:
@@ -71,7 +71,14 @@ def __init__(self, font, *, x=0, y=0, text=None, max_glyphs=None, color=0xffffff
         self.y = y
 
         self.palette = displayio.Palette(2)
-        self.palette.make_transparent(0)
+        if background_color is not None:
+            self.palette[0] = background_color
+            self.palette.make_opaque(0)
+            self._transparent_background = False
+        else:
+            self.palette[0] = 0
+            self.palette.make_transparent(0)
+            self._transparent_background = True
         self.palette[1] = color
 
         bounds = self.font.get_bounding_box()
@@ -168,6 +175,24 @@ def color(self):
     def color(self, new_color):
         self.palette[1] = new_color
 
+    @property
+    def background_color(self):
+        """Color of the background as an RGB hex number."""
+        if not self._transparent_background:
+            return self.palette[0]
+        return None
+
+    @background_color.setter
+    def background_color(self, new_color):
+        if new_color is not None:
+            self.palette[0] = new_color
+            self.palette.make_opaque(0)
+            self._transparent_background = False
+        else:
+            self.palette[0] = 0
+            self.palette.make_transparent(0)
+            self._transparent_background = True
+
     @property
     def text(self):
         """Text to display."""
diff --git a/examples/display_text_background_color.py b/examples/display_text_background_color.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f48b70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/display_text_background_color.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+"""
+This examples shows the use color and background_color
+"""
+import time
+import board
+import terminalio
+from adafruit_display_text import label
+
+text = " Color Background Hello world"
+text_area = label.Label(terminalio.FONT, text=text, color=0x0000FF, background_color=0xFFAA00)
+text_area.x = 10
+text_area.y = 10
+
+print("background color is {:06x}".format(text_area.background_color))
+
+board.DISPLAY.show(text_area)
+
+time.sleep(2)
+text_area.background_color = 0xFF0000
+print("background color is {:06x}".format(text_area.background_color))
+time.sleep(2)
+text_area.background_color = None
+print("background color is {}".format(text_area.background_color))
+while True:
+    pass