Though it is hard for me to believe, we are already in February which means something very exciting: it is Black History Month, a celebratory month we’re all aware of what Black History Month is, I’m sure. It is a time to reflect and celebrate from whence we, as Black people, have come. But is that all it is – a peering into the past and an embracing of our turbulent yet triumphant history? Perhaps, but I would argue it’s much more. History, according to Google, is defined as the study of past events, particularly in human affairs. But isn’t history more than just the past? History is not a static and unmoving study, but a study of what was in addition to what is, which ultimately informs what will be. So, if history is perpetually being written and unwritten while being a compilation of the past and present, then what does that mean Black History is?
We celebrate our Blackness daily and we ought to, but it is during Black History Month that our pride for our heritage and perseverance despite our plight is so heavily concentrated. We thank God for those that came before us – in the distant and not so distant past. We thank God for the Toni Morrisons and the Frederick Douglass’ for all they have contributed to our rich history and the ways in which their legacies continue to live on to this day. But our inherent sense of pride and inspiration is also a celebration for ourselves because without them, we would not dare to dream. Because of Toni Morrison, I no longer dream of being a writer, I am a writer. Because of someone, you too, are in pursuit of your purpose, living in your purpose and most importantly, because of them, it never occurred to you that you were not capable or equipped to follow your dream and fulfill your purpose. Limits, like Michael Jordan said, are an illusion, especially in the face of all we as a people have overcome and accomplished even in the face of great opposition and adversity.
Returning to my original question – is Black History Month merely an embracing of our turbulent yet triumphant history? My answer is no. Black History Month is Sojourner Truth, Claudette Colvin, Malcolm X, Kwame Ture but it is also me, it is you and those like us who continue to strive toward our individual purposes and collective desires to continue to add to and strengthen the legacy we inherited from our ancestors. God, before the foundations of the Earth, ordained us to contribute and transform the corners of the world He placed us in and the people around us. We are our ancestor’s wildest dreams and we must not forget that, that we are enabled by their faith, their sacrifices and their contributions to the very framework of our society and culture as a people. We must also never grow complacent on our journeys, because we, too, have an example to set. We have a path to leave so the next of us has some place to grab the baton. Just as we continue to embrace our rich history in February and every day, we must continue to create it, extend it, each and every day. May we never underestimate or neglect the power we wield to tell our own stories, to be Black History and to continue to be God’s people.
Black History Month is the 28 – this year, 29 – days we were allotted to celebrate our enduring history and legacy, but it is more than a month. It is a legacy and way of life.
