Where did the Real Black History Month Go?

Now it's all about grievance and victimization

Growing up, Black History Month was a time to reflect upon the contributions made by Black Americans to this wonderful idea that we call America.

Despite all of the hardships that our fore parents faced, they were able to persevere through physical chains to produce enduring legacies that would engender freedom in subsequent generations.

I remember having to study the lives of Benjamin Banneker and Charles Drew.  Men who did not allow their present state to dictate their future outcomes.

Men, who looked discrimination in the face and chose to overcome it.

Men, who relied upon the truth of the Word of God and their gifting to demonstrate to an obstinate society that black skin is not a curse.  That intelligence is not relegated to a lesser content of melanin in our skin cells.

These men realized that what they were paving would be a road of success for all of those who chose to follow.

I am ashamed to see that their sacrifices are being discarded like a wrapper on a taco.

Black History Month has devolved into who can claim the most grievance.

Just a quick scroll through social media this month and you will find all sorts of black people attempting to outdo one another when it comes to grievance.

Whether it’s Jay-Z complaining that his wife has countless Grammys, but still does not have a Grammy for album of the year.

Or, black people mad that Travis Kelce is getting credit for inventing the fade haircut.

I mean, seriously, is this where we are for Black History in 2024?

What happened to having children recite the accomplishments of the past while at the same time acknowledging the obstacles that were overcome?

Despite all of the hardships that our fore parents faced, they were able to persevere through physical chains to produce enduring legacies that would engender freedom in subsequent generations.

Not in today’s culture.

Grievance is good.  Grievance pays.  Grievance gets likes and clicks.

But, grievance doesn’t promote or foster success. 

Grievance breeds victimization, which produces dependence upon the very people they claim to despise.

We must be better.  We can be better.

If not, we will be like the generation in Judges 2:10 that did not know the God of their fathers.

That’s the real history we should be teaching.