What About Me?

 

"Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave" - Maya Angelou

During Black History month growing up, I could not wait to hear stories about these wonderful individuals: Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Mary McLeod Bethune, Shirley Chisholm, and many many others.  Black History Month has always felt like a great celebration for my culture and me.  It was the one time I felt relatable in the school system because for one month, the spotlight was on our ancestry and what they contributed to the world. Even my parents, made it a point to make sure I was aware of the past and how it shaped our present.  I used to enjoy talking with my Grandma about her youth and things she encountered or overcame. However, the older I got the more I noticed how repetitive the month got in school.  We went over the same people every year and did not really learn much differently. Also, I noticed that many stories were omitted from the books.  Why didn’t we every learn about the Tulsa Massacres?  Why wasn’t Katherine Johnson (Hidden Figures) mentioned?  Do you know how awesome it would have been for young black females to see her and know that they could be working for NASA too one day.  I just imagine that is how kids feel today looking up to figures like Barack & Michelle Obama.  Why do we only get one month?  I know it is an improvement over the week we originally got, but why not year around like everything else. As much as I love our history, I want to make sure we maintain it and pass it on to the generations to come.  I cannot say that I hate it here this week; however, I do see we can improve on some things.

P.S: This title may or may not have been inspired by an old Boosie song lol. I am educated and ratchet all in one lol.