Recently, I watched a video that really made me stop and think. The speaker argued that we should stop calling it “Black History Month” and start referring to it as “Black Heritage Month.” That statement hit home for me in a way I didn’t expect. It made me realize that we often only celebrate the accomplishments of Black people from the past. We talk about inventions like the light bulb, television, and the ironing board, or iconic figures like Harriet Tubman. But what about the present? What are we doing now to honor Black heritage, culture, and accomplishments in the here and now?
It’s like we’re stuck in the past, always talking about what Black people did back then, but not looking at what we’re doing today. It made me ask myself, “What are we doing right now to build and contribute to our culture?” Black history isn’t just something from years ago. It’s a living, evolving part of who we are. So why is it that, aside from a quick mention of food or hair products, our heritage feels almost invisible?
This hit me even deeper when I reflected on my own journey. For years, I felt disconnected from my culture, even guilty about my interest in Korean and other Asian cultures. I wondered why I wasn’t embracing my own heritage more. And then it dawned on me: I didn’t feel like I had anything to embrace because, frankly, I didn’t know what Black heritage truly was beyond hard work and struggle. Yes, my grandmother worked tirelessly to put herself through college and raise three kids, and I admire that strength. But where is our creative legacy? Where is the expression of our heritage beyond the struggle?
When I think about what I could pass down to my children, I draw a blank. The music I listen to, like rap, doesn’t always resonate with me, especially when it doesn’t reflect my own experiences. I’m even trying to cut down on the curse words I hear in the music because I’m learning how powerful words are. I want to welcome in positivity, confidence, and peace—not anger and frustration.
So, I’ve been thinking about the need to normalize celebrating our heritage—Black heritage—not just focusing on the history we’ve made, but on how we celebrate it today, as a living, breathing force. We need to come together as a community, especially in places like my workplace, where I’ve seen a disconnect. Sometimes it feels like we’re competing with each other instead of lifting each other up. There’s a fear, a perception that I’m coming for someone’s job. But I’m not. I’m just trying to do my best, just like anyone else.
I wish we would stop seeing each other as competition and start seeing each other as allies. I believe that’s how we can rise together—help each other, grow together, and create new legacies. When we support one another, we don’t just build each other up, but we build a better future for the next generation.
And that’s where I get frustrated with Black History Month. It feels like the conversation only happens during February, and it’s the same stories retold over and over—Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., and the same historical moments. We need to move beyond that. We need to ask: What are we doing in the present to honor Black heritage? What are we creating today that we can be proud of tomorrow?
It’s time for us to stop celebrating the past and start honoring the present, building the future. Black Heritage Month should be about celebrating who we are now, what we’re creating, and how we can continue to shape the world with our voices, our talents, and our unique contributions. Let’s stop looking back and start celebrating what we’re doing today.
Happy Black American Heritage Month
