Bessie Coleman, she obtained a pilot’s license. Wilma Rudolph, she won 3 gold medals in track and field at the 1960 Olympics. Mary McLeod Bethune, she opened her very own school. Phillis Wheatley published her book of poetry. Janet Collins performed full-time at the Met. Ida B Wells, she investigated and shined light on hate crimes through journalism. Flo Kennedy was a dedicated advocate for women’s rights. Ruby Bridges had desegregated a public school in the South. All of these women have one incredible feature in common….they are all powerful black women.
Of all of those women mentioned above, how many of them have you actually learned about in school? I can say that I have only BRIEFLY learned about one, and that is Ruby Bridges. I remember wanting to cry when watching the documentary on her because I grew up going to predominantly white schools. It was always tough to find my place. Now I will not forget about my black men who have also made history in this country. Jackie Robinson, Booker T Washington, Martin Luther King, Malcom X, Michael Jordan. You have all made your mark and changed the game for a lot of women and men in this country.
I have had my experiences with racism growing up, and it was uncomfortable. It's not funny when someone calls you another derogatory name because they can’t remember your real name, or when they call you a “white black girl” because you don’t "sound black". What does that even mean? I learned a lot of valuable lessons through each experience. The most important lesson being to be PROUD of who I am no matter what anyone says, because we are all unique and powerful in our own beautiful way.
This is a list of names of black people that have been killed because of their skin color. No one should EVER have the power to take away a person’s life based on their race, gender, age, sexual preference, religion, or any factor!
Have that conversation with your family, and ask all the questions you need to fully understand the history in America. If your family doesn’t understand, or they don’t want to talk about it, then there are tons of documentaries, books, articles, podcasts, movies, and TV shows out there that can help you! Think about even reaching out to someone to talk about it. Please don’t just stay silent.
Most importantly, be PROUD of who you are. Don't let anyone make you feel any less than important just because you both are two completely different human beings. You were created the way you were for a reason, so own it!
I wish you guys could see how fast I’m typing due to how passionate I am about this topic! Change is happening, but we can’t just let this movement stop. It’s not some trend like the savage dance challenge. This is REAL LIFE, and I can’t stress that enough! So go out there and let your voice be heard! Sign those petitions. Donate to different causes. Sign another 10 petitions. Head to a peaceful protest. Educate yourself. Share what you have learned. Go out and VOTE. Most importantly, spread LOVE. We need more love in this world! It is truly up to us as millennials to create a better future to come. Change will happen.
Here is a very helpful link to the Candace Project. It is filled with different petitions you can sign, places to donate, and more information on black history and businesses!
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