KWANZAA SERIES PART 1

A Legacy of Resilience and Community

This Black History Month, we celebrate the rich heritage of a people who overcame enslavement, Jim Crow, and segregation. We honor those who succeeded in the face of inequality, housing insecurity, and systemic racism. But we must ask ourselves: what do we tell the generations yet to be born about their history?

As the current climate seeks to erase our accomplishments from government buildings and history books, it is our sacred responsibility to tell our children the truth. We must share how our ancestors were taken from a native land where they were kings, queens, inventors, and architects—not the "uneducated heathens" history often portrays. We have a lifetime of reasons to be proud. Our forefathers fought for the right to vote and the right to be educated in every arena.

However, if I am honest and share a perhaps unpopular opinion: while desegregation gave us access to spaces previously barred to us, it also marked the beginning of a loss of connection to our past. We began to assimilate into a European way of life rather than navigating through it while keeping our essence intact. We lost some of the very things that sustained us through the struggle—our legacy.

The Spirit of North Philadelphia

Looking back at my childhood in North Philadelphia, I wonder what has changed for the children of today. The most vital difference is the sense of community. Growing up, I knew my neighbors looked out for us. As a child, I resented my "nosey" neighbor, Mrs. Rose, who was always at her window watching the block. She was the town watch, the protector, and the "news reporter" for our parents.

As an adult, I finally understand that Mrs. Rose was a blessing. She cared enough to watch over the people she valued. To do that kind of voluntary work, one had to be a little nosey—and we were safer for it.

The Example of Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan

Today, I thank Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan for his unwavering faith and for allowing God to lead him. I thank his wife, Grace, and their children—Howard, Julie, and Hope—for sharing him with us despite their own sacrifices. Many ask, "Will there ever be another Leon Sullivan?" My response is no. God gave us Leon Sullivan because we needed him for that specific time. He showed us what is possible when God is "driving the car."

Our job is to learn from his example and forge our own paths, using our God-given talents to advance our community. It is okay to desire wealth, status, and prestige, but never at the expense of your soul. The God I serve wants me to have every richness available, but not at the cost of my salvation. If He did it for Leon Sullivan, He will do it for us.

A Call to Action

This February and beyond, let us live the principles of Kwanzaa every day. What can you do to make this world better? History is made by ordinary people making extraordinary contributions.

• The Action: Volunteer at a local school to read to a class.
• The Impact: Thirty children will see you and know that you care. They will improve their literacy; they will learn to dream by being transported to other worlds through stories. They will begin to think bigger than their own neighborhood.
• The Value: Priceless. One small gesture has the potential to impact hundreds through those thirty children.

I leave you with one question: What will you do with the life God has given you?