As a college student, I was a part of the Ronald McNair program. As a requirement, we had to complete something comparable to an internship. Because I was a history major, I was given the opportunity to work in the Archives department of the library. I had no idea what I was embarking on but was tasked to complete a collection of a former socialite journalist in Fort Worth.
As I went through her personal papers, I saw the lives of so many wealthy people captured in news articles and photos. This journalist recognized the value of her work was beyond the publication but it was understanding the power of creating both a legacy and a narrative. She was intentional about the story she wanted to tell.
I remember that I wanted to do the same thing. I wanted to leave my papers when I was older to UT-Arlington because I wanted to make sure others could read the history I lived through from my perspective. I realized the power of controlling your own story. A few years ago, I donated my papers to UTA from the years I was in student leadership on campus. I am hoping that doing so will encourage others to think about how they are telling their stories, building legacies, and owning their narratives. February is Black History Month and as we recognize the contributions of our ancestors and modern-day sheroes and heroes, we must pay attention to the narratives that are told. In a world in which the telling of our history is being diminished and erased, it’s important that we not only learn the past but make every effort to keep and share our stories.
I remember a student in one of my classes told me that her grandmother did not want to talk about the past because it was too painful. Yet, she deprived her granddaughter of the opportunity to know her history. It’s not just passing on the tales of traumatic experiences but it’s informing our families of our medical history as well. Another young lady I know lost a fiancé because of a genetic trait that was not shared but had left many women in their family widows young.
This month should serve as a reminder of what we must do starting in our families. “Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.” (Deuteronomy 32:7) As Believers, it’s important that we also remember what God has done in our lives, too.
We cannot keep that information to ourselves but we must share that with younger generations. How do they know about God’s goodness if we don’t tell how we got through?
The Bible encourages us to know our history. “Think about this. Wrap your minds around it. This is serious business, rebels. Take it to heart. Remember your history, your long and rich his- tory.” (Isaiah 46:8 MSG) It’s important that as we celebrate this month, we take the time to learn our history, our long, rich history of our families, and our culture. We cannot relegate this to one month but it must be embedded throughout the year.
Schools play a role in educating our children but we are being irresponsible if we leave our children’s education solely to those in the classroom, their friends, or the media. We can look at our youth and find ourselves dismayed at the behavior that we are witnessing but if we are not making it a priority to teach them about the past and about God, we cannot be surprised by the results. You cannot plant apple seeds and become enraged when a pear tree does not appear.
How are we making sure that we are sharing God’s story for future generations? How are we being deliberate in sharing God’s work in our lives? What does it mean for us to make sure that we are keeping our history alive beyond February for current and future generations?
Our contributions are too great to contain in 29 days.
You shouldn’t settle for less.
Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the President of Soulstice Consultancy, LLC and the Founder of the Reconciliation and Restoration (r2fdn.org) Foundation. The author of 4 books including Empowering Charity: A New Narrative of Philanthropy, Dr. Booker-Drew is also the host of the Tapestry Podcast.
