A question that swarms many minds. The simple answer is there’s no real answer, but in reality, that’s been our greatest demise. Told our blackness must align with a specific caricature that makes the masses comfortable with our existence. Only to fall prey to this divisive game of Willie Lynch’s cynicism.
What does it mean to be black? Again who do you ask? Cause some will say to be filled with lust, drugs, greed, and fame. A people who have lost all competence in their identity. People who are okay with doing anything as long as it will gain them wealth. A people who no longer value marriage, education, or spirituality. But those casualties are only a fraction of who we are.
So as I stated before black history is not just the portrayal of us on a plantation picking cotton and being beaten and abused. Black history is looking at what God has done, and giving understanding to why we are continuously the muse. Black history is…
Hattie McDaniel, the first black actor to win an Oscar
John Mercer Langston, the first black lawyer
James McCune Smith, the first black person to earn a medical degree and have a black-owned pharmacy
Madam C.J. Walker, the first self-made black woman who became a millionaire
John Taylor, the first black man to win an Olympic gold medal
And there’s about 100+ more first black. But black history is also our yesterday. It is a fact that there are over 100,000+ black-owned businesses in the present day. It’s despite the media’s efforts to say black men don’t love black women nearly 85% of black men are married to black women. It’s our housing equity and wealth continuously rising. It’s America having more than two million black millionaires. That despite the statistics placed against us we continue to thrive in marginalized lines. Black history is you and I. So while ignorance in our community will continue to be bliss. Things such as poverty, lack of degrees, unemployment, and no growth in home ownership. We must continue to address and counter these things. But always remember we are still making black history. So be more than a statistic. Be an outlier. Until there are too many outliers to negate our new reality.
That to be black is to be
The depiction of almost perfection
Is the illustration of excellence
An aura of magic
To be something bigger than you could ever see
Having a badge of honor to wear with pride
To be black
Is to be a muse
It’s to be exactly you
So I ask again, what does it mean to be black?
I say it’s to see what god has done and know we are not done yet
Five Tips To Elicit Positive Change In The Black Community...
Homeownership
Despite strides toward equity and progress, the homeownership rates are 44%, with only a 0.4% increase over the past decade for African Americans. Homeownership allows for economic empowerment but also stability, intergenerational wealth building, and community development. By owning a home, African Americans can gain a tangible asset that can be appreciated over time, serving as a foundation for financial security and upward mobility. Moreover, homeownership provides African Americans with a community that contributes to the positive growth of our families.
Higher Education
While African Americans continue to make notable achievements and advancements still only 34% of Black adults hold a degree. Education stands as a cornerstone of empowerment, offering avenues for personal growth, professional advancement, and societal change. Attaining a college degree not only opens doors to diverse career opportunities but also has 84% higher earnings than individuals without a college degree. By investing in education, African Americans can challenge systemic barriers, dismantle stereotypes, and foster greater inclusivity and representation across various fields. Especially seeing black doctors make up less than 6% of the physicians here in America. It is imperative for more African Americans to seek out higher education.
Prioritizing mental health
Only 25% of African Americans seek out mental health resources in contrast to 40% of their white counterparts. As a community, while we have made positive strides to combat the negative perspective we have on mental health, there’s still more work to be done. Suicide rates amongst our youth are at an all-time high and will not lower without strategic steps to address the why behind this issue. The way we think, and the way we see ourselves is just as important as eating a balanced diet and exercising. So we must take the initiative and do more to combat the stereotypes on mental health.
Prioritizing physical health
The three leading causes of death for African American women are heart disease, cancer, and strokes while for African American men are heart disease, cancer, and HIV/Aids. A common factor in all these diseases is trauma. While balanced diets and physical activity plays a pivotal role in mitigating the risk of these illnesses, it’s crucial to recognize the deeper underlying issue: trauma. Historical and ongoing systemic injustices have inflicted profound wounds on the Black psyche, manifesting in various forms of trauma that impact physical health. Addressing these traumas requires holistic approaches that prioritize mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Living in your purpose
Whether you believe it or not, we all have a purpose. Sometimes it takes time to figure that very thing out. But know, and trust in yourself to fulfill that purpose. The thing that gives you drive, passion, energy, and hope, usually aligns with your purpose. If you are not sure of your purpose take the time to pray, meditate and do some soul searching. But whether it is medicine, performing arts, finance, ministry, or the million other things it could be, just live in that. Make sure you find your purpose and joy in everything you do.
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
https://thejordanalexis.com/2022/01/01/my-black-american-identity/
This was a great read!