I Am Black Everyday!!!

I wanted to write this in real time, howsoever, I had to get home and get this Spanx off expeditiously. My vision was getting blurry😩! I also wanted to catch part of Tabor’s playoff game and the last CIAA semifinal.

If you’re following Kijiji, you would have seen me share Carter G. Woodson’s Black History Month Celebration. I had a feeling it was going to be a family reunion like celebration, and THAT IT WAS! Before I get to that, let me share a little about why celebrating is so important to me.

I received a call last night from one of my mother’s cousins in NY who was calling to ask me to spread the word to my grandmother’s children about the passing of another cousin.

I started my day by going to the funeral of one of my father’s cousins whose mother passed not too long ago.

During the family gathering I text another cousin on my dad’s side to check on him. He told me he and his family were good and he was in Baltimore waiting to finish his last Zoom so he could go enjoy the CIAA. He mentioned being told about the passing of the cousin whose funeral I was attending, and that he couldn’t place his face because he’s been gone from the city for so long. His parents typically helped him remember people. They both died last year 😔.

We discussed the need to learn about family especially since we have kids who are in/going to college and may mess around and date a cousin 🫣. I told him I was determined to learn and LIVE because I’ve been to ENOUGH funerals.

It’s “Buy Black” everyday for me so I introduced ByGood Coffee to a friend to celebrate his birthday. There, we ran into a lot of familiar faces who were all doing their part to make sure Black folk get what we deserve. We laughed, swapped memories, and shared plans. One thing we ALL had in common was…we were so glad it’s Friday!

*For you nosey people*

Yes I worked today. I’m simply sharing details that make my point about why it’s important to celebrate life. Oh, and mind yo bitness 🙄💁🏾

Getting dressed for The Ultimate Black History Month Celebration was next on the list, so I could party and receive an award 🫢. I got dressed at my mom’s which included a regular reminder of me encouraging her to do certain things with her life because of what she encouraged her parents to do with theirs 💁🏾.

Thank you to Rasheedah Bey, my high school classmate and fellow HBCU Alumna, for including me! I want to thank her mother, Ms. Hazel Mack, for putting her vision into action by founding Carter G. Woodson School and creating space for us at Other Suns! I know Rasheedah made the Executive Director, Darlene Steele, use my work email because she knew I couldn’t say I didn’t see the invitation 🤦🏾.

It’s an absolute privilege to be Black and to fellowship together with the elders who have paved the way. Michai sat next to me and we were asked to move down to make room for a man and woman. He asked who the man was because everyone kept coming to talk to him during the program? The man’s hat obstructed my view and I didn’t want to stare, so I told him he was more than likely a Black Panther since they typically show up to celebrate one another. At the end, I saw that it was Dr. Larry Little!!! Of course everyone wanted to talk to him 🙌🏾.

People like him, Ms. Hazel, and so many courageous others are examples of why I can’t quit. I.CANNOT.QUIT!!! WE.CANNOT.QUIT!

Continue to ‘Buy Black’ everyday (I bought Michai some Beard Balm and me some earrings from the vendors), follow Carter G. Woodson on IG (lifeofacgweagle), celebrate LIFE because “folk dying who ain’t never died before”, and DO.NOT.QUIT!!!