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As we pause for celebrations during February, there are many key aspects love and Black history share if we take time to think about and consider the benefits if we bother to apply them.

Three aspects that love and Black history hold in common are: Understanding. Hope. Unity.

Understanding

In love, when we really want to know about a person or thing, we put forth the effort to gain a better, if not thorough, understanding of every aspect of them. We want to.

With Black history, it is no different.

We love America. How much do we want to fully understand her? How can that be achieved if we choose to ignore a big aspect of her history?

Black history is a big part of American history. Understanding is one of the aspects love and Black history share.

Yet the struggle to achieve a better understanding of the Black experience and history in America sadly continues today. If fact, as we celebrate another Black History Month, there are efforts anew to either prevent, distort how Blacks have been regarded and treated.

Efforts to prevent Black history from being taught are occurring from the halls of Congress to legislative bodies across the country to school board meetings. Vigorous, and sometimes rancorous, discussions are occurring about what children should be taught about the Black experience and history in America.

Gaining understanding is one of the key aspects love and Black history share.

Hope

In love, we hope that our efforts to achieve a better understanding will form a strong foundation for a lasting relationship that can withstand and thrive in whatever circumstances and conditions the future may hold.

The hope for understanding all aspects of Black history is no different. We should want to improve race relations. In recent years, race relations seem to have deteriorated.

Aspects Love and Black History Share
(Photo by wildpixel/iStock Images)

Perhaps, if we are willing to fully confront the ugliness of institutionalized racism in education and take some systemic actions for lasting change, we can chronicle and commemorate the contributions of all Americans in the same history books, taught to all school children.

Making sure all of our books — from Art to Zoology — include and reflect the contributions of Black Americans, and that we are not just giving lip service to it one month out of the year. This will be the only thing to bring about lasting change.

We cannot ignore the role hope plays as one of the aspects love and Black history share.

Unity

 A beautiful outcome that results from love is the ongoing efforts put forth to achieve unity of purpose and working together for each other’s happiness and well-being, while gaining more appreciation and respect for differences.

As we work to achieve more unity as a country, as a society, no one needs to experience guilt. If the not-so-flattering and cruel aspects of American history are put in their proper and complete historical perspective, it can be freeing for us all.

Isn’t working toward unity one of the greatest aspects love and Black history share?

Portions of this article were published in the Missouri Independent.

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