“If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” Dr. Carter G. Woodson
This is the second year in a row where I have sat back, put my feet up (figuratively speaking) and waited for a Black History Month moment to come to me (literally speaking).
It’s true I go through my annual rituals of selecting my Black History Month readings, I talk to my family and others about some of my favorite African American historical icons, and I either visit or reminisce about the insightful and educational times I had at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American history.
This year was no exception. However, I recently confessed to my dad that I don’t feel very “Black History Month-ish” this time around. I was shocked to hear that he felt the same.
We spent time trying to determine the answer to the burning question ‘why?’ ‘Why do we feel this way?’ Is it because the political climate of the country makes it challenging to want to celebrate achievements of Black Americans since an African American family no longer occupies the White House? Could it be because the leader of the free world speaks of a certain black, male abolitionist and historical figure in the present tense and as a Detroit Free Press columnist wrote “we can only laugh when a young white boy grows up to be president in 2017 and thinks he can invite Frederick Douglass to the White House for Dinner?” (And in addition, the White House press secretary believes that the “contributions of Frederick Douglass will become more and more.”) Is it because of the tired complaint of many African Americans that February is the shortest month of the year, and therefore doesn’t give us much time to plan events/activities to celebrate? Is it because my dad and I are just being lazy this year?
We never answered the ‘why,’ and I’m happy we didn’t dwell on finding the answer because if we had done so, we may not have discovered what steps we can take to change these un-celebratory feelings.
Interestingly, my dad said “if we forget to celebrate this year and let this year pass by, then it’ll be easy to do it next year and the year after, until soon, we won’t see the need to recognize this month anymore.”
That statement worried me. No way can this happen. Not to me. I’m the same girl who worked at the Charles H. Wright Museum writing stories and educating people of various ages and backgrounds about the African American experience. I’m the same girl who looked forward to the the Black Student Union events on campus at my alma mater during February. I’m the same girl who made it mandatory to print a Black History Month series in the campus newspaper which was 40-plus years old and had never been led by an African American until I came along. I’m the same girl who discussed the Negro National Anthem, the Reconstruction time period, and many other African American topics with fellow students. I’m the same girl who believes as does my dad, that Black History is American history.
Although I’m that same girl and I did all these things, February 2017 forced me to realize that I need to do more. I’ve realized what made Black History Month so special to me the past few years is that it’s not passive, it’s active.
As the month comes to a close, I’m more alert to ways to become more active; perhaps it’s writing or reading an article, creating a Black History Curriculum to be taught in the community stretching beyond the month of february, or attending special events.
I can no longer expect Black History month to be a feeling. It is a month of purposeful action that can and should easily translate into daily living.
to go. I’ve purchased different styles of wigs- bobs (long and short), curly, straight, ect. I’m not a fan of long hair, so I end up purchasing them, but cutting them to my liking. One of my good friends, who is the QUEEN of hair/changing hairstyles is so proud of me because she has always said “the key to wearing wigs is to make them suit you/your style.”
competitions- but that’s another story for another time…). Watching Bring it On was nostalgic and I also watched Bring it On- All or Nothing for the first time.
y schedule has been quite hectic and I don’t have time to workout the way that I would like to, drinking an adequate amount of water is making up for that. Not to mention that my personal water challenge aligns perfectly with a new Spring challenge that I started on Monday May 2nd. Sufficient amounts of water has also improved the quality of my skin, which brings me to point number Two… – See more at: 
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LEAH FIGURES IT OUT 
