February marks Black History Month ... a month that may well bring that much more reflection by those who lived through 2020 and the start of 2021.
The fodder for such reflection has been considerable: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black people who died at the hands of police. The resulting summer 2020 protests and the (Nobel Peace Prize-nominated) Black Lives Matter movement. The Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and some of the attackers' apparent association with white supremacist groups. Cases of innocent individuals who have had police called on them, apparently because of their skin color. The racial gap between groups getting the covid-19 vaccines and distrust by some Black people of the vaccines anyway, due to the dark history of race-related medical exploitation.
It's been enough to cause one to wonder whether the time dreamed of by Dr. Martin Luther King — the "day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character" — is more of a pipe dream. Others may conclude that such events, though disheartening, should make Black Americans even more determined to, as stated in James Weldon Johnson's "Lift Every Voice and Sing":
- Let our rejoicing rise
- High as the listening skies,
- Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
We asked some community leaders what Black history means to them in general and, in particular, what it means to them in light of current events. Respondents hail from various walks of life as well as multiple generations.
- ◼️ Annie McDaniel Abrams, retired, community activist
- What Does Black history mean most to you?
Black history was presented to me as a child through two publications, The Chicago Defender and the Arkansas Baptist Vanguard, [the latter being] a statewide paper that showed pictures and stories of our historic leaders. I grew up seeing pictures of my family elders, grandparents, parents and my baby pictures. It developed in me self-pride, family pride and racial pride. At school and church during Black History Week/Month, we had programs with poetry written by African Americans [and] read books by them.
- ◼️ C.J. Duvall, Little Rock, executive vice president, Westrock Coffee Co.:
- How have the racially themed events of 2020 helped shape/change/expand your view of Black history?
For many people ... events such as the absence of intervention by other police officers, or the lack of thought behind the action that caused the death of an unarmed, subdued George Floyd was no surprise to me. 2020 simply reflected the reality that I lived growing up ... My late teens and early 20s are littered with the scars of similar events to what society has witnessed in 2020. It did not come from televised media. It was up close and real. I was accosted, threatened at gunpoint, strip-searched, arrested and threatened by police for no reason at least three times in a middle-class suburb of St. Louis — and by the [Ku Klux] Klan in Clarksburg, W.Va., that turned out to be law enforcement.
Today, in all of this that is going on around us, Black History Month reminds me of how individuals can make a contribution to the lives of others in our community, in our country and in our world. I don't want to be absent from the pursuit of contributing to society. The stories of my people inform me of the possibilities. (In the words of my elders: "Keep on keeping on.")
- ◼️ Jamie A. Scott, state representative, District 37; executive director of Youth Services, Pulaski County Government:
- What does Black History Month mean most to you?
Black History Month, to me, means an opportunity to focus on the amazing, undeniable and pertinent contributions of African Americans to the foundation of America and the fabric of our society. For too long, we have minimized and limited the accomplishments of the majority of African Americans who have shaped education, made groundbreaking strides in scientific endeavors, and sought equity and peace through social justice evolution. Black History Month is a celebration of all of the monumental successes that have occurred in history by an African American, whether noted on a national level or not. It's a time for us to celebrate us — and for society to recognize the enormous contributions.
- ◼️ Edmond Davis, professor of history and director of the Derek Olivier Research Institute for the Prevention of Violence, Arkansas Baptist College:
- How have the racially themed events of 2020 helped shape/change/expand your view of Black history?
In all areas of human interaction, the racially themed events of 2020 have elevated my sociohistorical awareness of how our current state of racial tension and division in some aspects reflects the 1950s and '60s. The most obvious corporate observations are between interactions between law enforcement and ethnic minorities of color — in particular, African Americans. I've facilitated a series of U.S. history and American government courses in the age of covid. During this altered phase of reality we, with smart devices, get a glimpse of the similarities [between] then and now with regards to how Black males are treated by police. What we are experiencing today will be in Black history books tomorrow. This is why we, not only as a people but a nation, can't allow the historical narrative of the 1619 Project [described by The New York Times Magazine as "an ongoing initiative" that "aims to reframe the country's history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative"] be missing in action or marginalized — ignored or avoided. [We must] expand and demand ... Black history.
- ◼️ Bob J. Nash, former director of presidential personnel for the Clinton White House; former undersecretary for rural development at the United States Department of Agriculture; part-time consultant:
- How have the racially themed events of 2020 helped shape/change/expand your view of Black history?
The racial injustices which played out in 2020 have me very concerned about America's acceptance of Black Americans' contribution to American history. I have been troubled by the direction of race relations over the last four years, and specifically this last year around our presidential election ... 2020 was a dismal year for American democracy, fairness and equity. It was painful to watch our own leaders encourage and support hate and division, as well as being dismissive of some facts and truths. [I'm grateful that] most Americans — black, white and others — chose truth over lies, inclusion over exclusion, and love over hate.
With all our warts and negative history, this is still the greatest country in the history of the world. What we know, however, is that we can't hold onto our greatness by sitting and doing nothing when the going gets tough. Every voice counts. Every citizen should engage and contribute to our society. To ensure that America remains a beacon for other countries, we have to work at it. This year has shown us just how easy it is for us to lose our place in the world, to lose many of the advantages we are proud to claim. I am convinced that the U.S., with the help of young people, and all people who want to see a country that works for ALL, will continue to move forward with a sense of fairness, equity, and respect for the rule of law. This means that Black history will become more relevant and acceptable as this "season" passes.
- ◼️ Janis Kearney, author; publisher; Arkansas Writers Hall of fame inductee; University of Arkansas Lemke Journalism award winner; founder, Celebrate! Maya Project:
- What does Black History Month mean most to you?
I am eternally grateful for Black History Month. It has meant, for the last 100 years, that Dr. [Carter G.] Woodson [who launched Negro History Week, changed later to Black History Month] understood the critical need for a people displaced from their roots to know as much as they could about their heritage — to know who they are and to have pride in who they were. My regret is that once the month has passed, and after schools or organizations sponsor their Black history programs, we are back to the position of having to prove our worth as a people.
My siblings and I were blessed that my father was an early proponent of Black history in a time that no one was talking about Black history in our community. A sharecropper with no formal education, he was adamant that his children understood that ours was a great heritage, and that we had much to contribute to this world.
If not for Black History Month, many of our youth would learn very little about their true heritage, and the greatness within their heritage.
- ◼️ Tamika Edwards, special adviser to the chief executive officer on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Engagement, Central Arkansas Water:
- How have the racially themed events of 2020 helped shape/change/expand your view of Black history?
While we've come so far, 2020 magnified just how deeply rooted racism is in our country and how silence, fear and willful blindness make the journey toward racial justice and equity painfully slow. The racially themed events of 2020 reinforced the importance of Black history. Black history is a vital part of American history. Through Black history, we see how a group of people who fought to ensure that America's promises extended to them actually paved the way and helped secure rights for many others.
- ◼️ Rodney B. Block, professional musician/clinician:
- What does Black History Month mean most to you?
Black History month is so important to me in the fact [that] we have an opportunity during this recognized time when we can focus and celebrate impactful contributions made by many incredible African Americans. I'm always amazed when I read some of the stories about these individuals; tough obstacles, extreme challenges, and decisions of life and death brought forth amazing gifts to humankind — inventors, artists, scholars, champions of social justice, and much more. It's imperative that we recognize and celebrate these accomplishments.
- ◼️ Dexter Doyne, general building contractor:
- How have the racially themed events of 2020 helped shape/change/expand your view of Black history?
The racially themed events of 2020 only prove that racism, discrimination and prejudices are still very much alive and well in this country. Although our Black history is full of great inventors, educators, entertainers, military leaders, civil rights leaders and even a president of the United States, we are still treated less than equal to the majority race. This is why we cannot let Black history forget the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many others who have died due to racial injustice. Yes Black Lives Matter — but all lives matter too. This is why I applaud those of the majority race and others who are not afraid ... to recognize and acknowledge the importance of our Black history and the contributions we have made to this country.