Every year during the month of February — Black History Month — we pay homage to the lineage of our ancestors, our fallen heroes and the generations that continue to pave the way for the Black community.
That’s all well and good. But Black history isn’t meant to be incorporated into a span of only 29 days.
The Black community deserves its flowers during, before and after Black History Month.
Black History Month is much more than a museum of facts that our ancestors and family members endured in their waking life, but a line of progression that our people — Black people — were subjected to at the hands of a wretched white man.
The handprints of my ancestors are rooted deeply into the core of America, in which we specifically — physically — built with our bare hands. We were slaves in a free world. We had no rights, we had no access to education.
We are America, even as a race of minorities.
Black history goes beyond the suffering that the Black community has been exposed to. Yes, during February it becomes a teaching of admiration and respect among the younger generations that have been versed to only see color as a competition rather than a partnership.
Respect the race that gave you — our Caucasian counterparts — your flowers. Specifically, the exact same race that has and continues to give your children’s children a legacy to exploit.
Although this tradition began in 1926, by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a century later the Black community still continues to confront racism, institutionalized enslavement and a biased governmental job force. We may have come a long way, but we have a long way to go.
As part of the stamp of young Black adults, seeking an elongated form of validation that my bloodlines carried as Americans — America —though requires its accolades not just one month a year but 12 months of the year.
Let’s create a world that encompasses the solidarity of the individuals before us who live outside of the realm of history that as adolescents we grew up repeatedly being reminded of.
Incorporate Black excellence in lessons, not just the black and white narrative of what slavery entailed and what media plasters the Black community as. Speak on the Black community in high places.
Speak among the Black community with flowers firmly placed in you hand — every day and every year.