Honoring Black History by Celebrating Black Futures

Black History Month has become my favorite “holiday” in recent years. I love learning about the heroes of old and being left in awe of how they courageously shaped the world we know today. Every February, we hear names like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Katherine Johnson and Jackie Robinson (two of my personal favorites!), Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, and so many others. But now as February 2020 comes to a close, I’d like to present to you my personal heroes of Black History…

You’ve probably never heard their names or seen their faces before, but I think you should. These faces are the children of Kids Count in Alachua County - a place near and dear to my heart. These kids are full of passion and potential, and their little hearts are the future. Though some people may look at young children as inconsequential or irrelevant now, when I look at them, I see our future. All of our futures. And I want you to see it too. I think we need to. I think we owe it to them. These are the faces of future CEO’s, scientists, teachers, pastors, counselors, parents, city planners, politicians, medical professionals, and so much more. There’s no limit. We must know: there are no limits to black futures. 

We cannot celebrate Black History without considering black futures- I don’t think the heroes we all know so well would want us to. After all, isn’t that why they took the stands they did? Why their courage propelled them to push boundaries and challenge the status quo of their eras? Why they fought for themselves, their children, and their children’s children? I think our beloved Black History heroes would be delighted and proud to know these beautiful little souls. They’d tell them to have big dreams. They’d tell them to never give up- to believe in themselves with immovable resolve. And they’d tell us to open our eyes and see them for who they are. For everything they can and will be. 

So with that I invite you to see these souls. To honor Black History with me by looking at black futures. It’s my future and it’s yours too, because these are the little lives that will one day be at the forefront of our world, so we owe it to them to see them and believe in them now in the present. And here they are:

Want to know some of what these kids say makes them special? Their favorite things about themselves?

“I’m unique”

“I love math”

”I’m fast”

“Everyone knows I’m cool”

“I’m smart, I’m funny, and I like being nice to people”

“I’m strong” 

“I like my hair”

“I respect my actions”

“I’m handsome”

“I’m creative”

“I’m kind”

“My emotions help me learn”

All of those statements are so true. You see it after just moments of being with these precious ones. They bring such joy to a room- they sing and dance and laugh. They ask thoughtful questions. They care deeply for those who care deeply for them. They’re sweetly loyal. They love their families and their teachers. They crave success. They’re strong and resilient. They want to be known and loved. 

Think through that list of characteristics- isn’t that what you’d want in future leaders? Joy and strength and beauty of heart. It gives me hope for the future- for black futures and all futures. For your future and for mine. 

Black. Is. Beautiful. It’s time we all see it and say it. Not just the parents of these kids. Not just adults who look like them. But all of us. They were made by a creator who creates with beauty and purpose and love. And that’s what I see in each of these faces, and that’s what I want you to see. I want you to see that there are stories of LIFE behind each of these faces. Life that is unfolding into unique, beautiful, redemptive stories. Stories that will become black history to future generations. 

So next time you see a black child, see the future. See preciousness. See value. See beauty. See potential. And celebrate black history, by honoring black futures.

Happy Black History Month.