BLACK HISTORY MONTH

 

 Is it just me or January has been a lot? Like a lot a lot! Although the month didn’t officially start until January 20^th (We are not acknowledging the first 19 days of this year, because basically it was left over 2020). We are 25 days into the month and I’m already exhausted but excited. Let me explain….

Black History Month starts in 7 days and I have been busy.

I am trying to come up with what I could do to show honor to my blackness. Not that I don't wear it on my sleeve every day, but I wanted to add a little extra razzle dazzle. (insert salt bae meme here)

At first I decided to write little mini history stories about our forgotten black people. As we know I have been trying to write more, baby steps on the consistency part. I don't know what it is about 2021 but my creative juices have been flowing. I mean you are here reading this because of 2021. I am more centered and creative than I have been in years. 

I called my mom (which is big for me, she’s a lot). She’s a English teacher with one of her many degrees being a History degree. She loves discovering unknown tidbits so I put her to work on unknown Black people and not my lack of a love life (for anyone who has a mother that wants grandchildren you know just how tough this can be).

She first reminded me of the story of George Stinney, Jr.. 

For those who don’t know, he is the youngest person ever executed in the 20th century. He was only 14 years old when he accused of heinously murdering two little white girls, whose bodies were found on the black side of town.  Earlier in the day, he had seen the girls by the railroad tracks while he was playing with his sister. When word broke of their disappearance, he joined the town search party. With little evidence, he was arrested, tried, and executed within 43 days. He was so small he had to sit on a book to even fit in the electric chair.  It was just the saddest thing I have ever read. His siblings are now in their early 80s, and a few years ago they fought to get his conviction overturned because he wasn't given a fair trial. 

We then talked about the Montgomery bus boycotts and the Freedom Riders. The hoses… The dogs… The arrests… The many women who sat on busses for years that have been forgotten.

My mother was quick to bring up the whitewashing of Beethoven. How pictures have been lightened but his complexion was that of coal. Here he is pictured in his youth...

I then decided that maybe I should research the lives of all the current hashtags of those killed by the police in recent years. And after Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, and Philando Castile, I just broke down and cried.

I’ve realized... I don't have the stomach to write their stories... our stories. They deserve to be told, but I don’t think I am the person to tell them. Sorry for my prolonged absence. I have been depressed the last week while reading about what has happened and continues to happen to so many people that look like me. Although I have all this knowledge, this will be the one time that I share it you all. If I have sparked your need for research please continue my work.

Feeling defeated, a few days ago I received a jacket in the mail from Old Navy (Old Navy Old Navy performance fleece,  HAHAHAHAAHAH shut up we all sing that jingle). I shop when I am sad but this time I was inspired! I was like wait this looks just like a jacket I saw one of my favorite influencers wear. Which made me get up in the middle of the night to channel my styling super powers and tear up my closet to put together the rest of the outfit. 

See below:

The next day I took a few pics of me in the outfit and friends of mine encouraged me to post it. And well here we are, 6 outfits in, and I am enjoying this work. It may not be thought provoking but I am bringing attention to my fellow black women who are doing the damn thing.

 

Black History isn't linear. It is disjointed, disjunctive, and incongruent. It is slavery, fighting, oppression, and setbacks but it is equally everyday advances, inventions, laughter, fashion, creativeness, and of course black twitter. Despite everything, Black people add that extra razzle dazzle to every part of our lives and I wanted to add that to your day. It took me a minute, if not a lifetime, to find my place in this world and if I have influenced you in anyway to check out my work, or the work of other Black Content Creators, or look up some forgotten Back History… leave me a comment.

Happy Black History Month!