Mirth and Motivation

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Reflections: Honoring Black History Month

Black History Month (BHM): What do you know about Black History Month and its origins? How do you celebrate it? Every February, we join hands to celebrate the history, culture, and rich heritage of this great community and people of diverse backgrounds; we are here, we are in the diaspora, and globally. As we wrap up this year’s celebrations, I’d like to celebrate the ancestors, activists, trailblazers, innovators, mothers and fathers who have kept the threads that connect us very strong and lasting … even some against all odds. I want to share a snippet on the origins of Black History Month below. (See blockquotes.)

I want to honor the many souls, some unsung, who have inspired us over the years and those who inspire us daily, and I’d love to share some quotes from some of the greatest voices who have inspired me and many others in the African American community. Some of the quotes shared are from activists, writers, and leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. The power of quotes is that they often capture the essence of a key point and offer food for thought. They also shed light on the thinking and discourse of the period in question. Read them.

Origins of Black History Month: As early as 1919, Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland started an organization dedicated to documenting the achievements of African Americans. By 1926, they created a Negro History Week to complement the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The Civil Rights Movement propelled the idea even further, and by 1976, President Gerald Ford declared February an official month honoring the History of Black people in the USA. When I think about the Civil Rights Movement and the tremendous strides black folks and the many supporters who joined hands made to win freedoms and rights in this great nation, I am reminded of the power of staying centered and focused on a goal. I am also reminded of another centering tip: keep your small victories in front of you as you strive for more successes.

Origins of Black History Month: In 1926, in the United States, historian, Carter G. Woodson, and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be “Negro History Week” In February 1969, black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University proposed a Black History Month. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State one year later, from January 2, 1970 – February 28, 1970.
Six years later (1976), Black History Month was being celebrated all across the country in educational institutions, centers of Black culture and community centers, both great and small, when President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month, during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial. He urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history”.
Since then, each American president has issued African American History Month proclamations. And the association—now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)—continues to promote the study of Black history all year. Sources: AfricanAmericanHistoryMonth, Wikipedia

“Freedom is never given; it is won.” A. Philip Randolph
“Black history is American history.” Morgan Freeman
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Frederick Douglass
“The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.” W.E.B. Du Bois
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Truth does not change, only our awareness of it.” Malcolm X
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” Desmond Tutu
“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” Thurgood Marshall
“In all my life, I have never been free. I have never been able to do anything with freedom, except in the field of my writing.” Langston Hughes
“I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” James Baldwin
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” Booker T. Washington
“All too often, when we see injustices, both great and small, we think, That’s terrible, but we do nothing. We say nothing. We let other people fight their own battles. We remain silent because silence is easier… When we say nothing, when we do nothing, we are consenting to these trespasses against us.” Roxane Gay
“The time is always right to do what is right.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say … I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger.” Harriet Tubman

Reflections: Honoring Black History Month

DIVERSITY: We live in a divisive world where racial tensions and petty hatreds continue to impact communities globally. We claim we are all equal while ignoring the anguish and suffering of the voiceless and oppressed in our midst. Some like to claim they don’t see color, which is a ridiculous statement if I’ve ever heard one. I want you to see me, see my color, and still treat me with the same dignity and humanity you desire for yourself and your loved ones. Even the colorblind see the fundamental uniqueness of our diverse backgrounds, features, and global distinctions. Let’s acknowledge and respect our differences. Sameness is not possible in a world where even nature and the animal world are rich and varied. We can be the face of change, but it has to start with each of us. It has to start in our homes and in our hearts. Without critical self-analysis and honest reflection, we will continue to pay lip service to calls for equality in an unequal world. What do you know about BHM?

Even though I didn’t grow up in the USA, I learned a lot about this great nation in school, at home, and through a wide range of multimedia offerings. Some of my earliest memories are of the rich, creative, and cultural contributions made by black people to the world of music, literature, science, and the global movement for change. Over the years, watching Eyes on the Prize, The Green Book: Guide to Freedom, and many other documentaries and movies about the Black experience has given me pause and remains a powerful reminder of how indomitable the human spirit can be. It is a reminder of how people can rise to combat oppression through solutions that benefit and raise the spirits of a maligned group.

“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality … I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Harriet Tubman
“When you do common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.” George Washington Carver
“When I liberate myself, I liberate others.” Fannie Lou Hamer
“I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” Malcolm X
“What the people want is simple: they want an America as good as its promise.” Barbara Jordan
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” Booker T. Washington
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.” Maya Angelou
“Justice may be slow and invisible, but it always renders its true verdict in the end.” Colson Whitehead
“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit.” Wilma Rudolph
“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters.” Colin Powell
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” Dr. Mae Jemison
“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” Barack Obama
“Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” Madam C.J. Walker
“Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare.” Muhammad Ali

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