BY CASSIE CLEMENTE
PALS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT
Celebrating Black History Month is about honoring diversity. At PALS we work to build a world of belonging for all people. This means that we observe and celebrate differences, not that we ignore them and pretend like all people are the same. We know everyone brings their unique and particular experience to PALS and the wide-range of these personalities, histories, and abilities makes our PALS family the dynamic and loving place that it is.
I really appreciated what President Barack Obama said about Black History Month in a 2016 speech:
"Black History Month shouldn’t be treated as though it is somehow separate from our collective American history, or somehow just boiled down to a compilation of greatest hits from the March on Washington, or from some of our sports heroes. It’s about the lived, shared experience of all African Americans, high and low, famous and obscure, and how those experiences have shaped and challenged and ultimately strengthened America. It’s about taking an unvarnished look at the past so we can create a better future. It’s a reminder of where we as a country have been so that we know where we need to go."
I find that we can get lost in the challenges, in the struggle of racism and the inequity of police violence. I myself, as a privileged white person, am guilty of thinking of Black History only in the struggle, by often thinking about slavery and mass incarceration. This year, I will work on learning more about the abundance of joy, art, and culture that Black members of my community have brought to the world.
I loved this story about young black women in California celebrating Black joy as a form of resistance. Check out this story about why Kleaver Cruz started a movement for #TheBlackJoyProject on social media. Powell’s bookstore has a whole list of books under the category “Black joy.” I definitely want to check out some of these books for my nieces and the other little kids in my life and add them to our collection.
During Black History Month, I hope you will join us in lifting up the contributions of Black creators. PALS finds joy and celebrates our community, as artists and singers and dancers and writers and creators. As we reflect on the history of Black Americans, I am excited to celebrate the joy and creativity of these stories, and hope you will join me in this venture. I am so grateful to live in a society shaped by a rich and diverse cultural heritage.
