In this moment, I’m holding back the tears and stopping myself from weeping as I recall the words from the historical negro national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. I’m reminded of how powerful those words are at this moment on this day! I’m a Pisces so I’m often described as being somewhat sentimental. Truer words probably haven’t been spoken. The sentimentality I’m filled with today is far reaching. I weep as I remember my grandparents, Blanche, Johnnie, Rebecca and Haywood. I weep as I remember my Great Grandmother Daisy, My Great Aunt Willa and My Great Uncle Joshua. I weep because I remember sitting with them and hearing stories of their youth and the world they navigated through. I weep because I’m amazed at how far we as a country have come. I’m hopeful about our future and I believe that the differences don’t divide they bind. I’ve seen it in my own family, with my own eyes. Amazing.
Today, as you embark on your day at work, take a moment to reflect on the greatness that this country is. Yes, we have so much more work to do. There is so much more to witness and fight for. But take a moment to think about the growth. If you’re white look to your left and to your right and think about how amazing it is for it to be normal to work alongside that person of color. If you’re black, think about what it must of felt like to not be able to drink out of the same faucet, use the same toilet or sit at the same restaurant as your co worker. If you’re human think about the humanity that has been elevated in our country. How terrific of a place this is that we can share with others our ideas, without fear of prosecution. I mean, it was only 50 years ago…..unbelievable.