Reflections on Black History Month
A Message from Mayor Darnell Waites
As we embark on Black history month in 2021, I want to thank you all for supporting our efforts to move Baker forward together. I love to hear the passion and commitment from our community members about what is going on now and their eagerness to get involved. This passion for community brings me to a key fundamental in Ubuntu/Botho/Hunhu philosophy; there is a saying ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ which translates to ‘I am, because we are; and since we are, therefore I am’.
As I consider this fundamental tenet of African culture, I believe that this is one of the things that has endured with us, that has given us strength, hope and the ability to rise each day, no matter the circumstances, and push forward through even the bleakest of times as well as the ability to feel overwhelming joy; joy which has become a commodity to everyone outside of the Black community. Joy in our Blackness is part of what the late civil rights leader John Lewis called “good trouble.” And it plays part in “how we get free,” to quote Black feminist scholar Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. Our joy resonates within us and our community. We have never lost our sense of community, ever.
Throughout this month Black history will be given the spotlight – the “greatest hits” as President Obama once remarked which is generally the recounting of highlighted points in time and notable persons; all of which have rightfully earned their places in history. And this month is a rite for us, as a people orphaned hundreds of years ago, we seek our “we” so “we can be”.
As we have always known, there is a sense of security in community. A security which we, as Black people, were historically not afforded and still fight for even today. The perpetuation of collective trauma coupled with social rejection due to inherent and institutional racism has only intensified our want to be with people who understand us. People who can cry and laugh with us. The people who can help us build our new history.
We listen as the story tellers recount the new history of our American tribe. The people we have come to know for overcoming adversity; their heroics, genius, steadfastness, natural abilities, and all the admirable, and notable traits they have which inspired and have shaped who we became. We listen, mesmerized by the tales of people and events that are awe inspiring, painful, joyous, uplifting, anger inducing, inspirational and feel the whole gambit of emotions. We listen because they are our story. They shape who we are, who we aspire to be, and know they created the future which we live in now. But our story does not stop there alone, among the most well-known events and people.
Our story is about everyone in our history, our community, and the people we have depended on, loved, and cared for. Every person that has gotten us collectively, from there to here. Every positive, loving, proactive step taken to advance one or one million Black people is worthy of praise. Every person that sacrificed for the advancement of Black people, whether that is as an activist, in the military in uniform, the woman breaking barriers, or the parent struggling to ensure their family survived – they deserve to be heralded because their forward action has propelled us to where we are today. Poised to take the next big step forward.
There is a quote by Native American author Linda Hogan that I love because it reminds me of the importance of my actions, the respect I owe those who came before me, and my duty to the history I can preserve and make: “Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.” and as I pause to consider the multitudes of souls that sacrificed, persevered, struggled, but also loved and lived, so we all could be here now I pray that you will join me in paying homage to them. The men and women, many of which we will never know their names, but are equally important as the people we celebrate the achievements of because they made us and ‘I am, because we are; and since we are, therefore I am’.
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