Evolution of the black experience

American history; Black history; African-American history; Afro-American history; Negro history; emancipation; slavery; Africa.

The evolution of the Black experience has traveled more than four centuries, creating a tapestry of artists, musicians, writers, scientists, mathematicians, civil leaders, inventors and even a president, to deliver us where we are today.

The rich, cultural history of African Americans has been the productive undercurrent of this country. Its economic strength was built on the backs of our ancestors from the Mother Land.

Yet, despite the immense contributions and the world-class benchmarks that African Americans of the past have set, many blacks from generations past often pose a question: What is this generation doing to make its mark on the historical timeline of America?

I would like to think the question would have been answered Nov. 4, 2008, when President Barack Obama was elected the 44th Commander-in-Chief of the United States; however, there are several that would disagree.

An argument of those that oppose this is that black America cannot simply sit back and ride the coattails of President Obama's appointment and that young African-Americans, which appear to remain stagnant, are allowing the world — and opportunity — to pass them by.  

I can agree on the fact that stagnancy will eventually lead to the demise of any group, especially one that is already crippled by a number of significant problems. I was taught that anything that isn't growing is, in fact, dying.

But I don't think this is an issue for this forthcoming generation of African-Americans.

This generation is doing the same thing that generations of the past have done. Historically, when change was needed, there were those who stepped up to the plate.

President Obama saw a need for change and acted upon it. Not unlike his predecessors, he dared to dream the impossible.

He was not alone.

Just 15 years after Tupac Shakur, a martyr in the hip-hop community, vocalized his controversial yet candid verse ‘we ain't ready, to see a black president' on his song entitled ‘Changes,' the impossible happened. President Obama, The black version of Generation Y, and a host of others defied the notion of ‘black is whack, white is right' and caused an upheaval in the way things were. President Obama and company utilized the techniques found in his grassroots organizer past and successfully translated that into a nationwide campaign. Suddenly black America had a renewed sense of faith in the future, chanting about change.

I'm not sure if President Obama had a ‘mountain-top' experience, or if he just thought America needed something new; what I do know is that somewhere between 2007 and 2009, the black communities of this country came together, the same way our progenitors did in the past, and demanded change.

And that's the ebb and flow of Africa-America; things may seem dismal, even to the point of extinction, yet somehow they find a way to thrive.

The struggle for blacks may seem never ending but as sure as flowers bloom in the springtime and harvest comes in the fall, growth will eventually meet change.

This Black History Month, I encourage African Americans to continue to grow; because you never know when it will be your time to make your mark in history.