Why Is Black History Month Important?

"There is no more powerful force than a people steeped in their history. And there is no higher cause than honoring our struggle and ancestors by remembering". Lonnie G. Bunch III, Director of the Smithsonian Institution.

Honoring our struggle and ancestors by remembering..... are the words that stand out the most to me. 

The first part of this quote is an external perspective focused on how we (black people) move as a community. The second half of this quote turns inward to look at our individual actions. In this short blog, I want to focus on the second half of the quote because I see: individually many of us have lost hope. I am focusing this concern specifically on our young black men. Have we said screw them because no one is listening? They won't play fair, so why should we? That is not what I want for us. We carry such heavy biases against us that we cannot afford the price of not caring. There was a time (only a few generations ago) when Black people had to take every part of their daily lives so seriously because the consequences of not caring were harsh and unforgiving, even lethal at times for all of us. That threat still exists today. During this Black History Month, my request for us is to find BALANCE AND FLEXIBILITY in our reaction to these threats or the approach our days. 

Honestly, we as men must become as flexible as black women to protect an existence that doesn't include prison or long-term unemployment. We must find the same character strengths as our ancestors used, so we have a legacy that is not steeped in so many of our men being locked up or locked out from opportunities. Truly valuing Black History Month can remind us of how strong other men were who suffered more worst threats we face today. 

I implore all of us to use Black History Month as the time to plant our seeds to produce a legacy for our children.