Dear Black People,

Black History Month passed recently, and for many it was a period during which they could express excessive pride in being black without anyone saying anything. However, our pride in our melanin should not just be limited to one month. We should constantly love the skin we’re in, and be proud of who we are. In order for us to fully love ourselves, there are a few things that need to be done.

1. Accepting Your Roots

Part of being proud of who we are is accepting our roots. Although many have already accepted it, there is a significant number of others who absolutely refuse to acknowledge the fact that they have roots in Africa. They refuse the fact that they are descendants of African natives. We all descended from people who were brought to this country from Africa, and that is the reason we are called African Americans. No one is insinuating that you were born in Africa or that you have direct lineage. Your family may be from the Caribbean Islands or may have had several generations born in the states. The fact of the matter is, if you trace their roots far back, you’ll find out that they were children of slaves who were brought to the Americas from west Africa. Once you’ve accepted that fact, it is time to move on to the next step: respecting yourself.

2. Respecting Yourself

Respect is something that everyone wants, but it’s not something that people just willingly give out. In order for others to respect, you have to respect yourself and others first. Media and years of being fed foolishness have turned us against each other. Those with lighter skin are glorified, while those with darker skin are put down and written off as undesirable. Women are ashamed of their glorious crowns and full heads of hair which is dismissed for being too “nappy” and “unprofessional.” Every few months we destroy our hair with perms so that it is straighter and more acceptable, and so that we won't be viewed negatively. I’m not necessarily saying that perming your hair is bad because I know how much easier permed hair is to manage from experience. I’m saying that perming your hair because you don’t like your curls is a result of years of disdain. Loving your curls is a step closer to respecting yourself. Men especially need to learn to respect one another. You don’t like other people calling you “nigga,” and yet you go around calling each other that. Here is a quick history lesson on that word: it is derived from the word “nigger” which was a racial slur that white slave owners and other white people directed at black people. It is a derogatory term meant to degrade black people and mark them as inferior beings. When you go around calling each other nigga, you are pretty much telling the public that you still have the mentality of a slave, and even though you might not mean to, you are saying it is okay for them to look down on you. If you can’t uplift a “brotha,” who else is supposed to?

3. Respecting Authority

That is one thing our people seem to ignore these days. If a person is in a position of authority, RESPECT THEM! They have been put in that position to bring some sort of discipline. You are supposed to respect them regardless of whether you agree with what they do or how they do it. They may be in the wrong, and you are undoubtedly correct. You can respectfully disagree with them and respectfully let them know that, but giving them attitude and flat out ignoring them is what puts you in a bad position. You are allowed to be angry, but don’t act on that anger. It will not end well for you.

4. Presenting Yourself the Way You Want to Be Perceived

This is something I’ve heard a lot growing up. The way you present yourself is what will allow people to come to some sort of judgement of your character. It is understandable that not everyone is able to the afford the “look” that is universally accepted as respectable. However, the way you speak, act, and the kind of people you surround yourself with say a lot about who you are as a person. On one hand, people use your surroundings to assume the type of person you are. If every other word that comes out of your mouth is profane, listening to you without cringing is next to impossible, and you could be labeled as not properly educated. If your friends or the people around you are associated with negative dealings, then it is automatically assumed that you get involved with the shindigs and negative dealings even if you have nothing to do with it. If you act like a “thug” or wear oversized shirts or pants that don’t sit on your hips, the public automatically assumes you are a no-good delinquent. On the other hand, actually breaking the law and doing things that are non-commendable will get you a record; maybe not a jail record, but the people around you will take mental note of your behavior, and it could be difficult for them to trust you. The way you present yourself will determine what kind of opportunities you will obtain.

5. Stop Killing Each Other

Black on black crime is one of the biggest issues in America. Statistics show that in 2010 and 2011, more black people were killed by other black people than were lynched from 1882 – 1968. In two years, 4,996 black people died at the hands at their fellow people. If this doesn’t shock you awake, I don’t know what will.

With the way society is and the way people of color have been treated for decades, it is important that we band together and help each other. Instead of disrespecting and turning against each other, we should try to uplift each other. Don’t call each other derogatory terms, don’t have children and abandon them, don’t become another statistic. We are more than false portrayals and bad numbers.