February is Black History Month and it is so important to recognize the contributions that black people have made throughout history, not just this month, but every day. Since this is such an important topic and to ensure this post is meaningful, I have asked some of my friends if they would give me the honor and privilege to interview them and share their perspectives and thoughts. The following are the unedited interviews. Special thanks to my dear friend Ivory who helped me with this blog post and helped with formatting the interview questions.
First Name: Tammi
Location (City, State): Everett, WA
1. Who do you look up to or who inspires you and why?
I am inspired by Dr Maya Angelou bc of not only her inspiring writing but also bc of how she lived her life. I’m also inspired by my grandparents. My grandfather marched with Dr King and invented a device for the hearing impaired to ride the bus. My grandmother was a Pastor extraordinaire. She was a teacher, preacher, evangelist, prophetess type and had 10 children. I need to say something else about my grandma. She not only loved God, but she inspired the healer in me and nurtured that in me. And loved me like no one else in my life.
2. Why is Black History important to you?
Black history is important bc they have tried to deny black history for so long, not recognizing or downplaying our contributions so that our children can’t hold their head high when they see people that look like them In history. It’s important not only for young black children but for everyone. It’s time that truth not be suppressed bc we have to get past color. I don’t even know how I feel about African American bc I’m from America not Africa. Fact I’ve never been to Africa.
3. How can we all celebrate Black History and what can we do to educate people?
I feel that if we just be truthful in celebrating the contributions of all people, black people included and get rid of embedded racism by not condoning the behaviors of racist people. You see racism wasn’t a thing in ancient history, people were just people before some people decided they were superior to others. This happened to many different groups, however they still want to suppress the knowledge that blacks people were kings and queens and primarily this country was built on the backs of black people.
4. What would you like to see going forward?
I would like to see the end of racism. I would like to know that my sons won’t be a target of racist, power hungry cops. I would love to see Dr King’s dream realized. I would like to not be concerned about places I go and not worry about how people feel about me due to the color of my skin. I would like to in the words of Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?” I would love it if they stop targeting young black men to fill the prisons. I would love for it to be fair when we go to court. I would love to stop seeing young people of color dying at the hands of the people we are supposed to trust to protect and serve.
5. What else would you like the readers to know?
I believe it starts with all of us. We all really need to breathe and treat each other like humans. The golden rule: treat others like you want to be treated. I feel that if we just start are there, things can change. I feel like Dr Kings dream should have been realized by now.
First Name: Cavelle
Location (City, State): Trinidad and Tobago
1. Who do you look up to or who inspires you and why?
The woman that inspires me most is Winnie Madikizela-Mandela she was a woman of immense courage, compassion and strength. Fearless in her dedication to use her knowledge skills and excellence to serve her country in the midst of the evil called aparthied.
2. Why is Black History important to you?
Black history month is important because it focuses on the struggles, triumphs and victories of the pioneers that fought for freedom on many levels throughout history as well as other great accomplishments. Black history month is an opportunity to honour and remember what our African forerunners endured and acheived so that we can experience the level of freedom we enjoy to date.
3. How can we all celebrate Black History and what can we do to educate people?
We can all celebrate black history month by acknowledging and highlighting the contributions made by great black minds and giving them the honour and respect they deserve.
4. What would you like to see going forward?
More exhibitions, educational seminars and documentaries about black poineers that were instrumental in the fight of freedom, science, medicine and other academia, so that the younger black generation can identify with and be inspired to excellence.
5. What else would you like the readers to know?
In conclusion I will share Winnie Madikizela Mandela's quote.
'Even being in exile really is a constant reminder of the sickness of our society, and that we are virtually in prison, even in our country. Those who are outside prison walls are simply in a bigger prison because the Black man is virtually a prisoner, and all those other fellow whites and other groups that are oppressed as we are, we are all really in prison, in a bigger apartheid prison.'
First Name: Lawrence Tyler
Location (City, State): Warrensville Heights Ohio
1. Who do you look up to or who inspires you and why?
This is difficult question for me to answer today. Years ago I could easily give a opinion. Now I don’t know. It’s difficult for me to determine a historical figure who has more significance or importance if it’s not a person who I have a direct and personal relationship with. The older I get the more value see in all things. I can’t in honesty name any individual who has influenced me more than my late father. The older I get, the more I think of him and the lessons he taught.
My father wasn’t a very complicated person. Yet he taught his lessons more by example rather than imposing his system of beliefs of his family . Mom was the same. Dad was never a judgmental person. Not that he didn’t criticize certain actions but he avoided judging folks for who they were as people. Again he never attempted to impose his beliefs on my brother and sisters. He let us completely determine our own paths.
Never told us to be this way or that way. He was very much involved with all us kids. He would support us in our own pursuits as long as they were reasonable. As time went on my surviving sister and I realize how unique our upbringing was. We never forced to accept any ideologies. Never were neglected. Never abused. Lacked for nothing. Freedom to choose who we were. He taught us by example to be independent at an early age. We all had jobs and all had our own cars while still in high school. Rare for kids in the 1970’s.
2. Why is Black History important to you?
History is important. But in my view we as Blacks tend to insist on looking into the past. Yes I am happy that as a people we are being recognized and acknowledged for our important contributions to humanity, but I don’t care for is the focus on the past while not significantly looking into the future.
3. How can we all celebrate Black History and what can we do to educate people?
Black people in the United States have always celebrated history, events, cultures, holidays and other rituals of different ethnic groups. We have had a respect for other peoples and their cultures. What we are fed up with is the lack of respect for our culture the insistence by some to ignore it while we must embrace the cultural norms of other groups. So this education must come from within each individual. I am personally not going to beg and plead with anyone to accept my ancestral culture even though I’ve been forced to accept the ancestral cultures of others. People should realize they should’ve respect the history of others if they want their history equally respected.
4. What would you like to see going forward?
I’d like to see more tolerance, love, and understanding.
5. What else would you like the readers to know?
We should respect everyone and everything. There’s so much lack of respect for others. It’s so open now. Folks aren’t ashamed to be openly heartless and cruel today. Some are proud of it. This is another tough question. Few today are willing to look at themselves. Few will look in the mirror. We are so quick to look at the flaws of others buy refuse to look at what we do wrong ourselves.
First Name: Ivory
Location (City, State): Newnan, Georgia
1. Who do you look up to or who inspires you and why?
I looked up to Maya Angelou when she was alive. She had came through so much adversity to become the phenomenal woman she was. She was also an activist for equal rights and was great friends with Dr. Martin Luther King and his wife.
2. Why is Black History important to you?
It's important to me because it is imperative that people of color are celebrated and held in high regard, so the next generation can see that your race doesn't hold you back for achieving greatness.
3. How can we all celebrate Black History and what can we do to educate people?
We can celebrate by learning our history so it's not doomed to be repeated, also there are so many accomplished people of color known and unknown that have contributed to making this world a better place.
4. What would you like to see going forward?
Truly what I would like to see going forward is we would all looked at as being Human and NOT by the color of our skin.
5. What else would you like the readers to know?
Our differences are what make us unique, yet We are all more alike than you know. We should all be striving for Unity.
Thank you to all my friends who were gracious enough to participate and for their valuable time and thoughtfulness with their answers.
Black History, Voices and Lives Matter!
xo Love Bohemian Queen