Black History Month & Beyond

Let us never forget...

"...those whose shoulders we stand on — the individuals whose blood, sweat, and tears created a pathway for us to live, shine, and thrive. Let their wisdom, sacrifices, and resilience propel us forward, leaving a legacy that impacts generations to come."

Black History Month is not a marketing moment.
It is more than quoting our ancestors.
It is much more than well-crafted, heartfelt social media posts.

It is a reckoning with truth.
It is a time for deep reflection.
A time for collective action.

The freedoms many of us navigate today were purchased at an unbearable cost. The opportunities we step into were carved out through resistance, organizing, faith, brilliance, strategy, and sacrifice.

Our ancestors who toiled morning, noon, and night.
Phenomenal Black women who refused to shrink, to be silent, or to disappear.
Black people who fought relentlessly to keep our history, culture, and legacy alive.

And even in the midst of it all, they found ways to gather, to sing, to laugh.

Joy. Pure Joy.

Are we honoring their courage with our own?
Are we protecting the pathways they built?
Are we expanding access for those coming behind us?
Are we living in a way that honors their sacrifice?

Are we allowing ourselves joy— not as an afterthought— but as resistance?

Black history is not behind us.
It doesn’t end on February 28.

It is kept alive in how we lead.
How we build.
How we rest.
How we refuse.
How we resist.
How we love.

How we share and receive joy. How we organize. How we unite.

Story Time. Name the Lineage.

Whose shoulders are you standing on?
Name them.
Honor them.

What did they endure that positioned you to live, lead, and thrive?
What stories from your chosen or biological family shaped your understanding of resilience?

What traditions, practices, or values have been passed down that you now carry?

What would it mean to live in a way that makes your ancestors proud?
How will the next generation describe your contribution?
What legacy are you building — not just admiring?

This is not remembrance without responsibility.
It is assignment.

Call to Action:

How do you plan to carry both the struggle and the joy forward?
Beyond February 28.

Let us never forget.