What It Means to Make Black History

It’s Black History Month!

History is like a quilt, and each of us has our square in it – our own place, our own colors and patterns. Together, they make a beautiful, vibrant, and diverse piece of ever-evolving artwork. Black History Month is the perfect time to unfold the metaphorical quilt, appreciate it, and note our unique place in it. 

At this time of year, I always reflect on my place in history and my journey from humble beginnings to an abundant life I am so blessed to live. Like countless other Black women, my story is a testament to our strength, determination, and resilience. And the best part is, I’m just getting started!

The living chapter that is my life – that is still being written every day – is one of hopes, dreams, and, more importantly, hard work and hanging on.

My Story

For me, education was a critical piece of the puzzle. Out of all my siblings, I was the only female to graduate from college. It was a barrier that once seemed insurmountable. Yet I persisted. It wasn’t just a personal victory for me either. It was a victory for my parents. They sacrificed so I could go further, and a precedent for the generations who came after me.

Soon after, I entered another arena where Black women weren’t commonly seen: Corporate America. It was a place full of new and perplexing challenges and glass ceilings. And although mentors who looked like me were,  in short supply I persisted. 

I broke through barriers with one promotion after another, and you’d better believe that I propped those doors open behind me so other Black people could have an easier time advancing than I did. That is what it means to make Black history. 

Now, as a coach, I have the supreme honor of helping others find their way, find their power, and write their next chapters. Building my practice is one more achievement, perhaps the one I am proudest of, that I hardly dared to dream of earlier in my career. Yet here I am, earning validation from Inc.’s Best in Business list and discovering new opportunities.

Like threads in a quilt, our stories weave together to create a tapestry of resilience and triumph.

Your Story 

Like me, you are a maker of history. You came from one place, are in another, and are on a road to somewhere new and wonderful. We ALL have the power to change the narrative, to prove the doubters wrong, and to be catalysts for change. 

How are you making history? Are you working on yourself – building skills, gaining education, and planning major career moves? Are you building a family – raising strong and responsible children, caring for a partner or a parent? Perhaps you are fighting for your community – through action or advocacy. Or, like so many Black women I know, are you trying to do it all at the same time? 

THAT is what it means to make Black history! 

Your contributions to our collective history have a ripple effect, ever-expanding to change the future. It goes beyond our personal success. Your successes inspire others to go further, to build on what you accomplished, and to write new stories that we can not begin to imagine. 

My deepest wish for the upcoming generations is that they dream bigger and reach higher and never, for a moment, doubt that what they want is attainable if they put in the time and the work. 

Black History Month is a call to action—a reminder that we are all part of a larger story. It is a narrative in which our choices shape the world for future generations, a patchwork quilt of everyday heroes.