Hello, Pearl Team.
Welcome to February. I am sure many of us are looking forward to the warmer months already (I know I am). However, before we can be out enjoying the spring weather – we need to pause and take notice of what is before us in February. This month brings with it some notable holidays, like Valentine’s Day, Random Acts of Kindness Day and Black History Month. While I’d love you all to consider performing random acts of kindness all year – I see all of the observations this month with an underlying theme of appreciation. To go along with the theme of appreciation, this month I’d like to focus my letter on the significance of Black History Month.
Black History month is intended to bring awareness and celebration for the achievements of African Americans around the world. It was originally observed as a week-long focus in 1926 and evolved to Black History Month officially in 1976 by President Gerald Ford. It is now celebrated around the world and observed in a host of different ways. At the core, no matter the country it’s celebrated in, it is time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across our society—from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more. Every year includes a theme and focuses on a particular area of achievement. This year, the theme is “African Americans and the Arts” and includes a focus on literature, fashion, visual and performing arts, music, architecture, culinary, and many other forms of cultural and artistic expression. The Arts have a special place in my heart as many have made an impact on my life both professionally and personally. Below is a brief summary on a poet, activist, and incredible human – Nikki Giovanni Jr.
Born as “Yolande Cornelia”, Nikki is a world-famous commentator, writer, educator and activist for African Americans and gender equality. Nikki is one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement with notable books such as “Black Judgment” and “Those Who Ride the Night Winds”. Nikki has written more than two dozen books, including volumes of poetry, illustrated children’s books, and multiple essay collections. For decades now, she has taught writing and literature at Virginia Tech, where she is a University Distinguished Professor. Her list of accomplishments seems to stretch for pages – and at the core, Nikki says her pride is living her truth and teaching others to live theirs.
One of my favorite inspirational quotes form Nikki is “If you don’t understand yourself, you don’t understand anybody else.” Such a powerful statement that really highlights the importance of self-awareness and empathy in our interactions with others. A close second of importance to me is “If you don’t understand your past, you can’t transcend it, you may repeat it.” If you’d like to learn more about Nikki, her story, and her accomplishments – this is a great article from poets.org
What are quotes that inspire you? Maybe consider writing them down and having them handy for moments where inspiration or motivation could be helpful. Lastly, for the month of February, I’d love for you to focus on how you can inspire others. Can you mark 1 day on your calendar this month to make time to perform a small act of kindness or inspiration? Even the smallest gesture, like a smile to someone in a Zoom call, can brighten someone’s day. I firmly believe that what you put out, you get back – so go inspire and smile!
Warmly,
Merry Korn