[MUSIC]
To me, Black History Month is a time for reflection and
inspiration, reflecting on the intellectual and
societal contributions that the black community has made to the world.
Reflecting on the visionaries who rallied against seemingly insurmountable prejudice
and violence to make those contributions.
And reflecting on those last along the way.
This month reminds me that the trials of our present will one
day become the reflections of our tomorrow, and
inspires me to seek to be counted among those who have contributed to that future.
[MUSIC]
>> Black History Month is an occasion to reflect on the struggle of the past
generations for freedom, give thanks to our ancestors for being brave, and
appreciate the inspiring progress people from the African diaspora have made.
Without them, walls and barriers would not have been broken down.
Looking forward, we can learn from this as we seek to make our future a better and
more inclusive one for those who come after us.
[MUSIC]
>> Black History Month is a time for me to reflect and celebrate.
I reflect on the words 'in spite of' when I think about Black History Month.
I often think about the magnitude of what Black people across generations have
accomplished, almost always in spite of something, whether it be adversity or
a presumption of inequality.
Black History Month is also a time when I celebrate Black people's prevailing
resilience and the vitality that sustains our influential progress,
creativity, and hope
[MUSIC]
>> Our world isn't perfect by any means, but Black History Month provides
a healthy blend of celebration and reflective criticism.
They may sound contradictory, but
I found those two to be a necessary pair for progress driven by hope.
[MUSIC]
>> Black History Month is a time to celebrate all the progress we've made,
while acknowledging the immense work that still needs to be done to get to
an equitable plane.
It reminds us that progress is not linear, but
arcs towards justice with enough work and sacrifice.
It's a month of jubilation for the progress we've made, sorrow for
the leaders we've lost, and hope that we can and
will leave the world a better place for future generations.
[MUSIC]
>> Black History Month has always been a complex time for me.
A time for learning and celebration, to build a deeper appreciation for
the rich history and progress of the African American community.
A time for reflection, to ask myself what more can I be doing for
the Black community?
And to also constructively challenge those in positions of power around me to do more
as well.
And lastly, a time for fellowship, to navigate
all the complexities of the month with a community that is incredibly supportive,
and one that I could not be more proud to be a part of.
[MUSIC]
>> Black History Month is a time to remind myself of the sacrifices that were
made by my ancestors, and the many more that have come before me.
It is a time to reflect on the reasons why I have the privileges I do today, and
the responsibilities that are attached to them.
It is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of the American Negro
ethnicity in spite of the adversity and
institutional challenges that have and continue to work against it.
[MUSIC]
>> For me, Black History Month represents a time of reflection about who
I really am, and where I come from.
As someone born in Africa, raised in Canada, and now living in the US,
I have seen and experienced just how varied Black identity can be.
We are far from being a monolith.
And yet, we share a relentless spirit that allows us to not just survive,
no matter where we are, but more importantly to thrive.
So, onwards and upwards we go.
[MUSIC]
>> To me, Black History Month is not only a time to reflect on the sacrifices,
resilience and accomplishments of those that came before us.
It's a time where I recognize and celebrate the trials and
progress we are making today for our future generations.
It's a reminder that we should take time to reflect,
celebrate ourselves and not water ourselves down.
[MUSIC]
>> Black History Month for me is a celebration of Blackness, our successes,
our wins, our progress, our contributions to the world,
our multifaceted and diverse history and stories.
It's also about reflecting on our progress through adversity,
while looking ahead to all the work that still needs to be done.
[MUSIC]
>> Black History Month means making space to pause,
reflect, celebrate, and connect.
It means acknowledging and celebrating the resilience and beauty of Black people.
It means reflecting on Black history, and
thinking about what I can do to shaped Black futures for the better.
[MUSIC]