Behold! This is the left sidebar layout
with a sidebar on the left!

Left is the opposite of right

With February being Black History month, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how our culture as a country has been deeply influenced and advanced by Black and African American role models in science, music, sports, entertainment, civil rights and the struggle for social justice and equality.

I was a bi-racial child in the seventies, just fresh from the civil rights movement. As a young person, my heroes weren't black people, as there were not many that I saw in the public spotlight that represented me. I was aware of black athletes in sports and a few of the black actors and actresses [DISCLOSURE - one of my favorite movies was Carbon Copy with a young Denzel Washington . . . don't judge!] My musical interests went in many different directions but I knew who the classic black artists were and that was it. I grew up not knowing who I could be because I didn't see that reflection in society.

Now that I am a mother, the importance of black history and the need to learn, and tell, those amazing stories is even more important. While I did not get this education as a child, my children should be able to see who they can be.

In some ways we’ve come so far as a society, but in many other ways the struggles are deeper, yet sometimes more subtle than when I was growing up. Today as we struggle for equity and inclusion, we see that many of our systems, programs and basic privilege is distributed or experienced in vastly different ways, depending on your identity. Access to jobs, education, and capital is significantly influenced by who we are in terms of race, gender and gender expression, sexual orientation, age, ability – the list goes on and on.

In an era where we had our first black President and briefly saw the possibility of a woman being President, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that these examples are truly anomalies. Too many are still experiencing racism and, while at times in a far more sophisticated and systemic manner than before, the violence and loss of potential are just as real and traumatic as ever. We should celebrate the possibilities we are uncovering but pay full attention to the struggle that continues for people of color today.

So, for me, Black History Month is not only a time to pay homage to those who broke barriers, marched, fought and gave their lives in the name of freedom and equality, it is also a celebration of the culture, influence and achievements black people have made immeasurable contributions to American History. It is also a reminder of the tremendous amount of work that’s left to do, systems that need to be changed, and conversataions that need to be had. I, for one, am committed to being part of the solution…and I hope you will join me in honoring the black legacy and challenging systems of oppression to ultimately create a safer, more supportive environment where ALL people have the fair and equal opportunity to achieve the American dream!