Looking back at Black History Month and its impact on American culture as a whole, I am reminded that although African-Americans have achieved much, there is still much more to accomplish. Minimalism encompasses purposeful living and thinking. The influential leaders who have had the strongest imprint on Black history all had the desire to live a life full of purpose and liberty in common.
Notable leaders such as Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali, Shirley Chisholm, Medgar Evers, Barack Obama, Frederick Douglass, and Rosa Parks have overcome adversity and laboriously fought for equal rights for all Americans. Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist in Alabama. She was also the secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Parks is most famous for her refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her actions inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott. That boycott brought about the ruling by the Supreme Court that segregation on public buses is unconstitutional.
Frederick Douglass taught himself how to read as a child. He traveled across the U.S. and overseas as one of the greatest orators of the 19th century. Douglass published three autobiographies — Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass in 1845, My Bondage and My Freedom in 1855, and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass in 1881. He also bought his own printing press and launched The North Star newspaper in 1847.
February is dedicated to celebrating Black History but we can all pay homage year-round. Some manners include visiting civil rights museums and supporting black-owned businesses. We can also educate ourselves more thoroughly about African-American history by watching documentaries and films. Supporting local black churches and their ministries is another manner. Volunteering to support the needs of low-income neighborhoods can do wonders. It would also be advantageous to support black authors, musicians, and artists.
How do you celebrate Black History Month?
Be sure to share this blog post and subscribe to stay in the loop!
-Love
