The Big Girl Chronicles:
Black History Month Tribute
“Look at me. I am black.
I am beautiful.” -Mary McLeod
Bethune, Educator
It seems easy to lose sight of who you are in today’s
world. We are surrounded with images
that mirror another culture as beautiful.
Black women have chemically straightened hair and added extensions and
weaves to make other races more comfortable and accepting of us in the
workplace and society as a whole.
Although I applaud these efforts, only those images that we create of
ourselves bear a more accurate representation of our beauty to the world. For the sake of not only our generation but
generations to follow, we must continue to present images that reiterate our
rich dynamic heritage and act as our own support system. And it all begins with you.
Beauty in the African American culture should be
recognized as more than just outward appearance or physical
characteristics. Yes, it is important to
realize that our broad noses, thick lips, kinky coils and earth-toned pigment are
all traits that make us uniquely beautiful on the outside, but it is equally
important to emphasize the strength, resiliency and wisdom handed down through generations
that tell of inner beauty. My grandmother
doesn’t look like a model, but the wisdom and experience that she has to share
make her beautiful in so many other ways.
Make special time to spend with the matriarchs of your family and listen
to the history they have to share about growing up and living during their
time.
So as we continue to pay homage to our ancestors and
their struggle that continues on today, let’s celebrate the beauty we possess
that ultimately reflects in our actions and contribution to society, excluding
the superficial and emphasizing those things that can only be measured in
kindness and love.
*The thoughts expressed in
this post were inspired by my interpretation of the quotation noted above. However, Mary McLeod Bethune should in no way
be held responsible for the contents of this post.
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