Our history

Every person has a past, and every race has a history. Our history the black race is one that angers, saddens, and troubles EVERYONE, especially black people. Our history reeks of death, unfairness, and excruciating pain. Our ancestors were tough, determined, and full of hope.

     Looking back at our history is important and necessary for growth because we need to know where we come from. Knowing your history and where you come from gives you a sense of belonging, even though we came from struggles and no justice, we can identify with the things that still hinder us and it explains some of the battles we continue to face. It also gives us the power to change and create new history.

     New history does not forget the past, but it is a way to create a healthy version. It also explains why we do what we do and enables us to build upon the talent and skills our ancestors had. One thing I learned this weekend was that the West African cultures had a tradition of storytelling, and each village had a storyteller who passed down the community’s shared knowledge. Storytelling is something my grandmother and my aunt did and now I do it as well.

     So, when I think about new history, I think about how storytelling has now become my career. From growing up listening to story after story and remembering everything I was taught and now being able to share those stories with the world means everything to me. So, we can take our history and transform it into something beautiful.

     This month I challenge you to read about our history and see where you fit in and see where you can identify with anything that you carry today. Embrace your history and do not forget where you come from but make continuous change to get better and better. Share our history with coworkers and others so that they can begin to understand how this can and could affect how we see others, but it can also encourage us to forgive and live free.

     This weekend I celebrated black history month by visiting the America’s Black Holocaust Museum, which is an incredible depiction of our history. The museum tells the entire story of our history, and you must take some time this month to take your family or go by yourself. This month the museum has community free days on Saturday the 25^th 10am–5pm and Sunday the 26^th 12pm–5pm, visit abhmuseum.org/visit/ for more information.

     I have attached a video for you to see how amazing the ABHM is, so make sure you go support what Dr. James Cameron has created and enjoy his wonderful display of black history.

Happy Black History Month!