As we honor Black History Month, and quite frankly celebrate Black history and achievement all year, I dream of the world I want to be true for my 1-year-old Black son and the generations to come. A world where they get to be free and thrive as exactly who they are—safe and basking in their collective genius and joy.
This year marks the 100th anniversary commemorating Black history in the U.S.
100 years.
My grandmother is 106 years old, and she has been alive for longer than we’ve recognized the importance of Black history in this country.
She lived most of her life in a modest mud house in a rural village in the western region of Cameroon and is the embodiment of Black history past and present. Though frail in body but strong in spirit, her life continues to be guided by an unwavering love for humanity, a generosity of heart and spirit that still shows up in her deep care for children and community.
Alongside Black history, in February, we also recognize Black Futures Month – an initiative launched by the Movement for Black Lives, to celebrate our collective movement of envisioning and creating a liberated, thriving future for Black communities.
It is with this dual mindset that I honor the life and legacy of my grandmother – pausing and giving thanks to our Black ancestors and elders who were unwavering in their determination and paved pathways for all of us across the diaspora. I also draw immense inspiration from young people who are unapologetic in their solidarity and allyship because they know that our causes, realities, and futures are interconnected.
I’m proud that the work we do at the Graustein Memorial Fund allows us to stand in our values and in the truth that there is no liberated society without freedom, equity, and justice for Black people. We continue to do our part to contribute to the dismantling of inequities and the building of systems that work for all people by centering those most impacted by racism and poverty.
We are seeing the best of communities caring for each other while also witnessing horrendous policies and practices from our governing institutions. Indeed, we live in a current environment in which we are reminded that democratic principles are not a given and our rights are relentlessly under attack. However, in this moment when fear, despair, and domination are the intention, it is love that feels radical and revolutionary. I’m inspired by bell hooks’ definition which offers that a love ethic is an actionable and intentional practice that must show up in our behaviors, institutions, and movements.
At the Fund, we choose to lean into philanthropy’s true meaning – love of humanity—in how we approach and evolve our relationships and work in support of Black communities and for all. hooks gave us a recipe for how to practice love-in-action through a combination of six ingredients: care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect, and trust.
So, let our actions be guided by love:
- Love as care – in resourcing wellbeing without being prompted to do so, because we understand that the people in the work need rest and wellness, and our communities need healing.
- Love as commitment to staying the course, especially when many of the tenets at the core of our mission and vision come under threat.
- Love as knowledge that these resources are not ours to control as we examine the sources of philanthropic wealth and work to return money to communities.
- Love as responsibility to stay committed to the work of equity, justice, and freedom, and be open to learning and improving practices to do the most good.
- Love as respect for the voices and experiences of our communities and partners and adjusting our approaches to meet the moment and needs at hand.
- Love as trust that those closest to the issues and most impacted are also most knowledgeable about the solutions needed to shape a more liberated and just world.
May this love ethic as a practice be how we choose to honor Black history and Black communities this month and every day, and may the love we have for ourselves, our families, and each other continue to sustain and drive us forward.
Artist: Alexis Nicole Neely