Happy Black History Month!
Who or what do you think of when you think of Black History Month?
I think of love and pride and resilience. I think of people like Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Rebecca Lee Crumpler Martin Luther King Jr., Rep. Shirley Chisholm and John Lewis. I think of the Civil Rights Movement, Jim Crow Laws and Loving vs. Virginia. And I think of my beautiful parents.
I think of them moving their family of seven to Smithtown, New York in 1967 (and soon after becoming a family of eight). Having to deal with the ongoing struggles of blatant racism as crosses were burned on our lawn, their children being called the N word, and students threatening and screaming out “white supremacy” to their youngest child in school. All the while raising all of us to have pride in ourselves and respect for all people. In addition to working full time and raising children, they advocated for housing and voting rights for all people. Both of my parents have since died but their legacy lives on like so many others. They were and will always be an inspiration.
Black History is American History. And like all history it is to be remembered both as a source of inspiration and a warning of what should never be repeated. We are all in this together and each one of us can make it better.
Lift Every Voice and Sing
“Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.”