BLACK HISTORY - WE DON’T CELEBRATE ALONE
I love Black History Month and being able to celebrate the contributions that African Americans made to the rich tapestry of our country. And in the backdrop of
2020, I’m realizing that we don’t celebrate alone.
Because of slavery, many African Americans are of mixed race. My
rich African American heritage ranges from Congolese and Mali to Ireland and Scotland. My maiden name, “Julie Gregg” represents my Irish ancestors, “the McGregors”. This mixing of American bloodlines represents how interwoven are country really is and how hard it is to separate us one from the other.
This month while I celebrate from Harriet Tubman to President Obama, I also celebrate President Abraham Lincoln and thousands of White youths who took to the streets in 2020 proudly proclaiming that Black lives matter (too) in our country.
This month I also celebrate where African Americans have come and where we have yet to go. I celebrate the fortitude and resilience of my African culture while I mourn my lost identity and
connection to it.
In these racially polarizing times, I remain hopeful. I believe, through love, we can build a bridge that
crosses the divide of our differences and brings us to a place where we find one another. I believe by coming together can we shift the pendulum of division and build a better tomorrow.
Now that is something to celebrate!
