February is Black History Month honoring African-American culture. Black History is a time to celebrate and honor Black Achievement in our American Culture.
As an African-American woman, finding my voice and my identity has had many challenges in our society. However, what gives me hope and brighter days for a positive future are Black Americans, who paved the way for my freedom I have in today’s world.
The year 2021, is an Empowerment Era. I have the opportunity to create my brand, make my dreams a reality, become successful in my chosen career, and serve my community by giving back to future generations to excel further than myself.
The Heart and Soul of Black History
The African-American attire has many facets of patterns and colors that symbolizes different symbols of creativity, status and allegiance to African tribal roots. The dashiki is a colorful garment worn mostly in West Africa. It is called Kitenge in East Africa and has been a dominant wear in Tanzania and later Kenya and Somalia. African dresses are pieces of clothing made from premium fabrics like hand-woven silk, cotton or hand-painted satin. The dhuku ( the head-wrap) represents far more than a piece of fabric wound around the head.
Moreover, Black History celebrates the rich culture of music from R & B, (Rhythm and Blues), Hip Hop, Gospel, Afro-beats, Jazz, to the Caribbean Vibes in the V.I. (Virgin Islands). At various celebrated black culture events, you can find many participants black line dancing, step dancing, the cha-cha, or dancing a jig solo.
In the article “Black history, culture told through dance” by Hayley Benton. “Award-winning choreographer Camille A. Brown likes to dissect the phrase. “First, take social a community, coming together for a purpose, then add dance, a sequence of movements. It's an art form that's spanned generations evolving across centuries, continents, cultures from the drum-like Juba dance of enslaved Africans to the modern Bop.”
The Celebration of Soul Food
Black History celebrates the culture of food everyday. One of the things I love is that my mama, yes ( I said my mama), can create a meal within the kitchen, and the aroma sends you to Heaven on Earth. During Black History month and on Sundays after church, the tradition is to eat at a Soul Food restaurant, and enjoy the savory dishes from greens to cornbread and plethora of desserts such as peach cobbler and pound cake.
So this February let’s embrace Black History with a fresh mindset, and an intention to learn more Black History facts, and celebrate one of the richest cultures in our American History.