“One day our descendants will think it’s incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings.”

Franklin Thomas, activist, philanthropist, and former president of the Ford Foundation

It’s February 2021 and that means it’s Black History month! Black history month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time to recognize their vital role in United States history. Fun fact: every U.S president has recognized February as Black history month since 1976.

To celebrate Black history is to reflect on the uniqueness, diversity, and resilience of Black people. Black people find themselves spread on every continent on earth, Black people also speak a multitude of languages. In the motherland of Africa, there are over three thousand native tribal languages spoken. It is through this mix of culture, language, and experience that unique forms of art emerge. In terms of revolutionary sounds in music that create new genres, to breathtaking dances.

The theme for Black history this year is “Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity”. We also explore the African diaspora and the spread of Black families across the world. Representation is a key ingredient to the success of a people; quite often certain things aren’t realized in time and have long-lasting impacts on people’s lives. Representation is not all about having a Black politician, it is bigger than that. Representation simply means having someone that is relatable in whatever field you would like to pursue. For instance, in the film industry, it is important to cast qualified Black actors/actresses so that their input and their story is told from an authentic point of view.

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” James Allen. A man is a reflection of his thoughts, what he primarily thinks is what he becomes. It is important that we trace the origin of our thoughts and if we do so, our findings will lead us back to ourselves. No man is an island; we get our identity from those around us. From a young age, each person has been shaped by the views of others. Therefore, the identity of a Black person stems from a rich history. We are but the sum of every person that came before us. It is important we remember that before bondage, we were free people! One suffers from an identity crisis when they don’t know who they are. Remember, water will always find its way back to the source. And as such, any Black person that is looking for their identity needs to look no further for within them lies a richness of character, talent, and power. Think positive and big, and your life will change.

During a stand-up special by Trevor Noah, The Daily Show host, he mentioned a thought-provoking observation that is a norm in our society. Trevor being of South African and Swedish descent, said that whenever a mixed-race child is born and one of the parents happens to be Black, that child will be recognized as Black by society and not the other race. But why take his word, let us consider the 44^th president of the United States Barack Obama or one of the greatest golfers to ever play the sport, Tiger Woods. The point here being, there is diversity in the Black community; which goes deeper than the different shades of black on our skin.

The African diaspora is also part of Black History. Those from the motherland such as myself, who have migrated to the United States and assimilated to the culture on this land which was once foreign to us. The African diaspora has ignited an awakening of African culture, specifically in the music industry. Nowadays, Afro-beats are the norm in some public spaces, Swahili is being taught as a foreign language in colleges classes across the nation. These are but a few of the contributions the African diaspora has brought. What the African diaspora and the Black population in the U.S have in common is the understanding that we are one people who share the same origin, and it is only circumstances that separated us.

Happy Black History to all that took their time to read this article.

If you have suggestions about future topics, or you would like to discuss the current reading feel free to email me at barnabas@humblehcs.com