It’s the end of Black History Month, but never the end of Black history. One way to think about why we spend only one month focused on Black history is that we spend one month looking back so we can spend the other eleven looking forward, always and forever keeping our eyes on the prize.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cVJmwSStL4

That’s the legendary Mavis Staples, from 2007. It was also the theme of a PBS documentary.

Eyes on the Prize, from PBS
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI1t2zzNlnKNl20OCfX7GTQL6hMih79Jk

That playlist is a bit jumbled, but there are several excellent documentaries from public broadcasting there.

Fellow wypipo, Black people don’t disappear on March 1, and the challenges unique to Black people don’t either. We all face struggles, it’s the American variation on the human condition, but this country reserves some challenges for those with more melanin, and we shouldn’t forget that.

History doesn’t end. Tomorrow’s history is today’s news coverage, and the news isn’t great. Former cartoonists and current politicians are making openly-hostile statements against Black people and Black culture, preying on ignorance and lack of understanding, hoping an uncritical audience will take their statements solely at face value, ignoring the nudges and winks and high-pitched whistles. In some cases, they’re even saying the quiet parts out loud. They won’t stop tomorrow, and neither can we.

Black history is American history, and American history is Black history. Black lives matter. Recognize and celebrate Black excellence every day of the year.

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryYear #BlackExcellence #BlackLivesMatter #blog