A Love Letter: 7 Ways I Celebrate Black History with My Son All Year – Essence

Dear Langston,

This 12 months, Mommy determined to put in writing you a letter forward of Valentine’s Day. Black History has lengthy been embraced by your mother and father past the 28 (or sometimes 29) days of February. But in February we attempt to make Black History Month acknowledgements extra particular and important. And because you’re 7 now, I believed it will be cool to offer you seven examples of how we do that with you and for you, out of affection.

1 – Your very title is a nod to Black History. You now inform strangers about Langston Hughes with delight. Mommy and Daddy are continually studying extra concerning the impactful work of Hughes as properly. Your thirst for data forces us to hunt out extra data ourselves. Langston Hughes solid his personal path and so will you. Your two center names are additionally impressed by males – your maternal grandfather and your paternal nice grandfather – who solid their very own paths and are an awesome a part of your private Black History. It is vital that you recognize your of us, Langston. You are already dwelling many goals they couldn’t notice, and I by no means need you to overlook that.

2 – You’re solely 7 however you’re turning into a foodie. It is hilarious to witness. You take pleasure in a number of soul meals dishes similar to Grandma’s candied yams and have performed sous chef on a number of events whereas different relations ready treasured meals. Food in our household nearly at all times means fellowship as properly. That’s usually when tales are shared about your ancestors and highly effective historical past classes are taught that you’ll by no means learn in your social research books. Much greater than your stomach is being fed. Pay consideration.

3 – We additionally create superior reminiscences round music and dance! Our dance events in the lounge are epic, proper? We rock out to all the pieces from The Jackson 5 and New Edition to Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé to the Encanto film soundtrack and Pharrell Williams. We have a time on a regular basis and I really like this for us. While we’re dancing our hearts out and laughing at one another’s strikes, you’re absorbing a lot wealthy tradition with out realizing it.

4 – Speaking of college, you could have visited a number of HBCU campuses. Let’s see…You’ve been to Hampton, Howard, Spelman, Morehouse, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Bennett and University of Maryland Eastern Shore (you dad’s alma mater). Regardless of the place or the way you finally determine to pursue your greater schooling, it will be significant that you just perceive HBCU legacy and what it means for our tradition.

5 – The faculty you at present attend was based by two Black visionary neighborhood leaders who’ve left their mark on historical past. You beam with pleasure whenever you see their footage hanging within the vestibule of your faculty. I’m grateful that you’re taught Black History all 12 months on this establishment. You and your vibrant classmates recite an empowering pledge every day and it’s one thing I need you to recollect for the remainder of your life; significantly these strains:

“I am proud of my ancestors, my heritage and myself/I learn from the past and look toward the future as I strive for excellence each day.”

6 – Never decrease or not acknowledge the superior Black History in your loved ones. Your maternal grandparents and your paternal nice grandparents had been a part of The Great Migration. In life, folks will try and be dismissive about The Great Migration as a result of the catalyst of the motion reveals extra atrocities about America’s previous like lynching and Jim Crow legal guidelines. Don’t allow them to get away that straightforward. The Great Migration is essentially liable for bringing the world jazz and different groundbreaking cultural contributions. You have relations who bravely served within the armed forces, nevertheless conflicted they could have felt, to guard our nation. Salute them. Your maternal nice grandfather offered moonshine and was apparently an astute businessman and entrepreneur. (Forget about respectability politics, he and lots of like him had been forward of their time and had they been a unique colour may have made fortunes.) It is vital to find out about Martin, Malcolm, Harriet and Sojourner however I urge you to embrace the Black History and galvanizing trailblazers in your personal bloodline as properly.

7 – Oh, and the books! You know your mama buys you books by Black authors any and each likelihood I get. Truthfully, you prefer to learn the identical ones over and over; particularly if they’re about superheroes or animals. Still, now we have created superior reminiscences studying about Black History from particular books in your private library like The ABCs of Black Wall Street by Claudia Walker and Bunheads, Act 2: The Dance of Courage by Misty Copeland.

Langston, your Mommy and Daddy are determining parenthood (and most issues in life) day-to-day. We have made errors and can make many extra. But you’ll by no means need to mistake whether or not we love you. We attempt to pour into you in each means we will. Your total village persistently pours into you. Even when our ancestors had been enslaved, we had love for one another. I pray that you just at all times really feel this love and pull from it usually. I additionally pray that you just absorb the Black History throughout you: from our church to your pediatrician’s workplace to summertime yard BBQs on the properties of our family members. Never overlook whose shoulders you stand on, their resourcefulness and their ingenuity. Their fortitude helped make it doable so that you can dream huge. It is equally vital to faucet into your Black Boy Joy at any time when and nevertheless you may. Black History Month is rarely solely about wrestle. Our folks have at all times managed to take care of pleasure regardless of challenges. Ain’t that one thing? Your pleasure will confuse, annoy and even anger some folks. Let it radiate anyway. My son, that pleasure is yours: the world didn’t give it to you, and the world can’t take it away!

Love you at all times and in all methods,

Mommy