Embracing Black Heritage and Self-Worth

In honor of Black Heritage Month, I felt inspired to share a profound quote by Marianne Williamson, famously quoted by Nelson Mandela in one of his speeches. It's a message that resonates deeply with the essence of who we are, or rather, who we are meant to be.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,” Williamson writes in A Return to Love. “Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.”

The quote reminds us that we are brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous. Why wouldn't we be? After all, we were born to manifest the glory of our Creator within us, right? It begs the question: When will we stop listening to what others say about us and start believing in the greatness that God instilled in us? We are great people destined for magnificent things, and we should expect nothing but greatness from those around us.

But to fully embrace this truth, we must also accept where we truly come from—our roots tracing back to the very beginning. I once had a conversation with a black friend who expressed that she couldn't relate to anything associated with the African continent because she'd never traveled there. It struck me as a common sentiment.

Consider this scenario: An African newborn is separated from her mother, placed in the care of European foster parents, and grows up in a society with different customs and languages. She's never told the truth about her heritage, and she's led to believe that where she came from is primitive and impoverished—something she'd never want to claim.

Now, picture that same individual, as an adult, stepping onto the soil of her birth mother's land, Africa. Something extraordinary happens—an undeniable connection, a deep sense of belonging, and an unspoken knowing. No blame, anger, or resentment exists over what transpired; there's only a profound peace about what's unfolding at that moment.

These overwhelming emotions are stirred by the spirits of countless kindred ancestors rising up from within, saying, "Welcome home, my child. Welcome home."

As we celebrate our black history every day, let us grant ourselves permission to receive the real truth. It's this truth that liberates us from our misconceptions and allows our inner light to shine—a light intended to guide our entire race out of darkness and into the brilliance and royalty we were born into.