I Have a Suggestion for My Fellow Black Americans—This Black History Month

“By allowing this ball and chain of victimhood to stay attached to us (and having this mentality that everyone and everything is racist), we are doing ourselves and our ancestors no favors.”

It’s that time of year again: Black History Month. Some love it. Some hate it. Some have little to say about it. This year, I’d encourage my fellow Black Americans to view it a bit differently.

Can we make it our mission this month to celebrate our history but without playing the victim card? We can take this month to celebrate our ancestors and the heroes that belong to our ethnic group; however, when we blame others for our problems and don’t take responsibility for our future, we are slapping these very ancestors and heroes in the face. I think too many black Americans fail to remember that we are some of the most privileged people to have ever lived. And yes, I did use the word “privileged.”

Think about it: We live in the wealthiest country in the world. The United States accounts for nearly 25% of the world’s GDP. The amount of opportunity for individuals to attain wealth and improve their station in life has never been greater. We are living longer than ever. Literacy is at an all-time high. More people are educated than ever before, which makes it all the more possible to climb the socioeconomic ladder. The crime rate is decreasing. People are safer, and so is their property. I’d say that America isn’t so bad.