Today, around the country, Americans are celebrating the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. As we observe this national holiday, it is important to consider what Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy means to us and our children. Also, it is important to consider what we want our children to know about African American history. For, we cannot expect school systems to teach our children everything we want them to know about African American history.
I would like for my daughters to know that although African Americans have been fighting oppression for centuries, there have been many great authors and artists despite our enslavement and oppression. For instance, the Harlem Renaissance produced literary greats, like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. Theirs Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston was probably one of the most enthralling books that I read as a teenager.
Moreover, I want my children to know that family is important to the black community. Statisticians would quickly lead you to believe that African Americans do not care about keeping the family together or building a strong legacy; however, if you review history, you can even find letters from slaves risking death and attempting to keep up with their families in the early 1800s.
As African Americans, I want my children to be proud of their culture. I want my daughters to know that they come from greatness and that the best is yet to come.
What are your thoughts on this MLK Jr. Day? Feel free to comment, like, and share.