As Black History Month begins, I find myself reflecting on the incredible changes I’ve witnessed over the years. Some moments have been triumphant, others deeply challenging, but all have shaped the world we live in today.

I was lucky to be born in California, far from the deep-seated racial oppression of the Jim Crow South. But my mother was not as fortunate. She was born in Lumberton, Mississippi—a place where racism wasn’t just an undercurrent; it was a way of life. The trauma of her upbringing stayed with her until her last breath. I would have loved to hear her stories, to truly understand her experiences, but I also understand why she chose silence. Some wounds run too deep to reopen.

For those who didn’t live through it, I strongly encourage watching PBS's Eyes on the Prize, the most critically acclaimed documentary on the civil rights movement in America. It captures the resilience, courage, and struggle of those who fought for justice in ways that history books often fail to convey.

And then there’s Strange Fruit. Billie Holiday’s haunting song isn’t just music—it’s testimony. That “fruit” hanging from the trees was the bodies of Black men and women lynched across the South, a brutal reminder of the violence inflicted on my people. It’s not a relic of the past. The racial injustices of yesteryear have echoes in today’s world.

Japanese internment camps during World War II, the deportation of immigrants today—these are not separate events. They are part of America’s long history of racial prejudice, where entire communities have been deemed ‘other’ and stripped of their rights, dignity, and humanity.

As a Black woman, I have seen progress—real, meaningful progress. But I also fear that we are heading back toward darker days. Hard-fought rights and freedoms are being challenged in ways I never thought I’d see again.

History is not just something to be remembered—it’s something to be learned from. And if we’re not careful, we will find ourselves repeating the worst chapters of our past.

I hope young people today take the time to learn, to listen, and to stand up. Because the fight for justice is far from over.