Before Black History Month Is Over . . .

This morning I realized it was the last day of February. The end of February also marks the end of Black History Month. And as Whitney Houston said in 1994 “We need a longer month”. Between the pandemic and February being the shortest month, it feels like the days flew by.

But, before we end Black History Month, I had a couple of thoughts I wanted on the blog. Racism is alive and well, however, at the same time, black people and people of color are worthy of respect and opportunities. One trend I’m continuing to see is the idea that choosing a black person for a role or shopping/investing in a black company means the person is choosing lower quality. We know this isn’t true and despite that, we still see people downing playing the skills and experience black people have.

I’ve seen this in my personal life, from people talking about black owned businesses, and most recently with Supreme Court nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. While some have attempted to dismiss her nomination as a diversity pick, I would say her qualifications hold even more weight because she is a black woman. I think of the challenges and obstacles I’ve faced in my own career. It’s difficult for black people to navigate their careers, especially if they’re goals go against what others want for them. I would say she’s not only intelligent, but also strategic. Of course, we’re not all going to be on the Supreme Court, but I find so much joy in her pursuing her goals and carving out a path for herself.

While Black History Month is coming to an end, I plan to keep celebrating black people. Our accomplishments, our goals, our dreams, and our humanity!