1 Reason to Celebrate Your Blackness this Month

Written By: Candrea Davies

I’m sure you have read plenty of social media posts, articles, and blogs lately explaining the importance of Black History Month for celebrating diversity and providing a more comprehensive origin story of the America we know today. While it is true that the education that comes in February highlights the truth about African American’s invaluable contribution to this country’s advancement and our history of slavery, racism, discrimination, and injustice, that is not my number 1 reason for celebrating this month. I celebrate Black History Month because it is good for my mental health. 

This is the one month that society is forced to see me whether they like it or not. As a Black woman I am frequently overlooked, ignored, objectified, and dehumanized. This reality is true  at work, in society, in the media, and for some, at home. No other month, week, or day (not even Mother’s Day) is afforded to me with both recognition of the beauty of my Blackness and my worth in this world. So yes, as I continue to deal with the adversities that the day brings, I  appreciate this month’s efforts to give a voice to those Black women who too have been silenced. 

We are here.