It's the first of February (celebrated in America) which marks the start of the one month of the year that we celebrate Black people, culture, and accomplishments. Now don't get me wrong, we should be celebrating all year long as Black folks have been contributing to this global society since the dawn of time. Africa was not just the home of civilization but also where some of the first monarchies were established. In those early days, we contributed to the creation of paper and the model for the trading of goods and services. For many of us, this is not new. So for the mass majority of the world, some educating is required. I urge all my friends who may not be aware of the contributions and value that Black folks have brought to society, to read up on it, get intimate with history. It is my belief that fear and misunderstanding is how our society has become so intolerable and unforgiving. The more time we spend learning about others the more we can all come together for peace, justice, and equality.
While today's post is on acknowledging Black History Month, it's more about honoring our ancestors. My mother Miriam Cook Jones recently went on to be with the ancestors. While we are all still reeling from the great loss of our beloved Mimi, I would be remiss if I didn't share what she shared with the rest of the world. You see, my mom was all about upward and onward. Her coin statements to inspire us were "To Da Moon" and "Best Foot Forward". In going through her things, I found some notes jotted down on an envelope. Those intimate with my mom knew she would write on just about anything. She was a thinker, note-taker, and list maker. I found the following note and I am going to urge you all over the next month to do the following:
Something to do: Start a new hobby or get back into something you put down
Something to look forward to: Think about something every day that gets you excited
Someone to love: Maybe this is someone or something
Something to give back: Ways you can contribute to society
Positive Mindset: No matter what you do set forth a positive mindset when you do it... Best Foot Forward
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