It’s the first day of Black History month. It’s a time to reflect. It’s a time to inspire. It’s a time to make your community thrive.

When I was a girl, I didn’t learn much about the history of Black people, my people ,from educational institutions. It was something I had to seek out on my own. For the majority of my life I’ve been educated at predominately White schools but the time I spent in a predominately Black school the story was just the same.

No matter White or Black student body, you learn more about every other ethnic group and only discuss Black History during Black History month. The rest of the education curriculum focused on slavery but there’s so much more to learn about Black History. There’s great achievements to learn but that’s forbidden to talk about in both private and public school systems.

I guess there’s still a fear to allow Blacks to see themselves as valuable and worthy of acknowledgement.

I have to let you on a little secret. Blacks aren’t “thugs”. Blacks are humans just like everyone else and we have a history, a rich history. We also have some bad apples like any other group of people but that should not make you feel disgusted, fearful or uncomfortable around Blacks.

I have been educated in some of the best of the best schools in the United States of America. But there was always something missing. I wouldn’t know much about myself or my heritage if I solely depended on education institutions to teach me about who I am. There is more to the story than slavey yet I had to learn it on my own.

And I believe the most valuable lessons you learn in life you learn on your own.

However, it’s funny to think on what education you’re missing out on when you know your parents have spent years of their savings to give you the ” best” education.

Something that still sticks in my mind as a young adult is the day I heard a middle school classmate say ” I’m so sick of learning about African Studies.” Note, I went to a pre-dominantly White private school. We covered African Studies for maybe two weeks ( I’m stretching). Thankfully the school now has courses on African studies students can voluntarily take up as an elective.

But all I could think of at the time was ” How do you think I feel hearing 365 days about your history? ”

I mean sure it makes for great films but hearing the same stories bore me. I get it. I even see it on my tv screen or web browser every day of my life.And I have learned something very valuable from hearing your story.

I have learned to speak and think of myself as success in the making. From your story, I’m flipping a script to teach Black children and all children how to speak and think of themselves as success in the making.

Reflect. Inspire. Thrive. Repeat.

It’s no secret in America and throughout the world, race issues still remain. We are so oblivious about how we all feel and think about ourselves and others that we haven’t heal those wounds of racial tension.

Ironically,race issues tie in with distribution of wealth in America.

Don’t take my word for it. Go to your locale library and read about it. Watch documentaries while you’re at.

I’m just like you. I want us to get to a point in social sustainability where we don’t need a Black History month.

I want to see the Black community and all communities thrive. I want to see family run businesses thrive no matter the skin tone of the owners. I want to see children across America receive a high quality education no matter how poor or how rich they may be. I want to see Americans thrive no matter how dark or fair their skin may be.

I want say this is my story. This is our story.

No matter your race, culture or religious views, take time during Black History month to learn about not only the achievement of Blacks but also the achievements of your heritage.

Black history is part of American History, World History. Reflect. Inspire. Thrive.