BEING BLACK

I’ve always been proud to be black. But proud and obsessive are different things.

—Jacob Lamar

Indeed, our pride grows as we learn more about our heritage. Sometimes, we border on becoming obsessed. It’s not hard to understand, given how often we’re reminded of our “otherness.â€

Developing a positive image of ourselves has teen a necessity. The important thing is not to allow our pride to become a substitute for action.

“I don’t need to prove myself; I’m from a great heritage†can be a ruinous attitude if it stops us from functioning. Let’s make sure our pride fuels us to make a difference.

Call to Action:  On this day, I will take five minutes to look at something speaking to my pride in my heritage—my “X†cap, my family photos, African cloth—and let its lingering mental image inspire me to excellence.