A time to start. February, 2020

Confession: I have never intentionally celebrated Black History Month. Sure, I may have bought Black History Month themed stamps or skimmed an article on my Facebook stream. But I haven’t done anything with sincere intentionality. I recently pondered this fact and contemplated why my inertia is to let Black History Month pass by barely in my periphery vision. This process led me through a period of lament, onward to a spirit of repentance and a forward leaning state of action.

 During my contemplation, I first uncovered part of me that wondered if the whole concept of Black History Month isn’t ridiculous. Shouldn’t “Black History” just be a part of “History”, I questioned?  This sentiment of mine was surely inspired by Morgan Freeman’s interview on 60 Minutes. I questioned if a dedicated month is a well-intentioned observance that lets people off the hook for racist behavior for 11 months of the year?  But let’s be honest. Black history isn’t part of 'my history'. While I agree with this vision of a balanced representation of history, I don’t have one. My context of the world is incredibly white and privileged. I have done nothing to change the white reality of my history education. 

 There is a larger, more complacent part of me that simply hasn’t prioritized Black History Month. Either subconsciously or consciously, every year I have put the month long concept on the shelf and assumed it was a topic discussed in public schools to ensure a balanced education for the next generation. During the month of February, I rode the cultural momentum to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine's Day in February, not Black History Month. And, I was waiting on others to pull me in. No friends invited me to read a book by a black author. No Facebook Event invites prompted me to attend a program in the community. No easy actions were presented to me such that I could celebrate within the comfort of my February routines.  

So here I sit in late January, 2020. I look back at my arrogant inaction of Februarys past. I see how I have perpetuated a privileged racist world view and justified my behavior as righteous and OK.

I look ahead to February, 2020. The Holy Spirit has woken me up with incredible clarity and has kicked me out of my comfort zone. Enough is enough. In 2020 I’m going to do something for Black History Month. With a repentant spirit I will start to act.

 Every day in February I will learn about a person, a place or an event of Black History. And as learning isn’t actually doing, I’m committed to sharing what I learn. With a humble spirit, I want to invite other friends, especially my white friends, on the learning journey with me. Engage in the conversation, actively repent, operate from a posture of humility and curiosity. I know that 29 days of intentional education and advocacy does not amount to even the tip of the iceberg of active work that is needed to make “Black History Month” unnecessary. But it is time to start. It is time to do the internal and relational work necessary. Join me as I expand my world view, revise my perspective. Each day I will share what I have learned. Each day I will invite you into the conversation. Each day I will seek your feedback.