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Black Love and Black culture for the win

February is known primarily for 2 things, Black History and Valentine's Day. I may or may not celebrate Valentine's day but I always celebrate love and Black history, I don't need a day for that, they're an extension of me. Black history is emphatically American history. It's more than a month, it's the legacy our ancestors built, the mantel we continue to carry and the pressure we apply for justice and equality in this country. It's the time we take to celebrate our wins. Our contributions have made America better.


Historically America hasn't been loving to us as a people which is why we celebrate and bask in the glow-up of Black love. For me, It's the pride of knowing we descended from people that resisted and survived. It's honoring those that died in the struggle. It's unpacking the detriment of being stripped from Africa, our ancestral native land, having been disconnected from established societies where we were skilled tradesmen and women with our own languages and religions before the colonizers arrived. It's the sadness and rage I feel when I see pictures of enslaved Africans in the hull of ships packed as cargo denied their dignity knowing their fate once they arrived on this land. It's understanding that enslavement in the new world meant brutality that would last generations. It's the trauma of knowing we were treated as "property" overworked, sold, raped, emasculated, bred like animals, whipped, lynched, pitted against each other for fear of survival, and denied human rights as we built America's wealth with free labor.

But that's not how the story ends. It's paying homage to our resilient spirit in spite of the insurmountable challenges. We created our own culture from the scraps we were given and the remnants of a heritage that was passed down. Black culture is a force. We are the originators of soul, swag, and slay. It's in the seasoning of our food, praise and power of the black church, the music we created, jazz, blues, gospel, R & B, and hip hop. Our influence is felt in folk, country, and rock and roll. It's the ingenuity of talented minds that established Historically black colleges, our ability to organize movements that continue to push this country forward, it's adding greatness to every table we've fought to sit, it's our ability to innovate as business owners and set trends that are emulated. Our contributions to this country and the world are innumerable. It's the revelation of our collective power. It's the appreciation for the scope of our beauty. It's coloring outside the box that tries to dictate who we are and place limitations on our ability. It's shattering glass ceilings, and being audacious innovators. It's frustrating that our stories have been omitted from history books and told from whitewashed perspectives and downplayed. Ideas have been stolen and proper credit hasn't been given but we continue to discover who we are, tell our own stories, and love ourselves deeper. That's the epitome of black love which is at the epicenter of black culture. Beyoncé is right "Black is King". Simply put, It's Black love and Black culture for the win. We built this shit!

In what ways do you appreciate black culture? Tell me about it.

2 Comments


Khisha 'Latch Khi Queen'
Khisha 'Latch Khi Queen'
Feb 11, 2021

Right. We are so much more than the struggle and for a long time that's the only thing that was taught. We have to research our history because it isn't taught in most school. That's why I teach Tristen his history at home because the schools and text books have to catch up.

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Twana Burnette
Twana Burnette
Feb 11, 2021

Growing up I refused to learn about black history because it saddened me to see us being whipped and chained. But as I grew and matured I started to do my own research and learned that we were so much more than what was told to us in the history books and films. We are royalty, creators, and geniuses. Our blackness is powerful and other races hunger for our talent, creativity, looks and strength. I’ve learned to embrace ME as a black woman, to love my full lips, my natural hair, my hips, etc..... I truly appreciate those that have gone before me to pave the way so that we can express ourselves on this earth. Thank you to …

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