Black History Month: A Call to Keep Moving Forward
In Baltimore, February feels heavy because the city has to remember its past while looking at its future.
A Boy, a Shipyard, and the Power of Literacy
A young boy working in a Baltimore shipyard secretly learned to read. That simple act became his first step toward demanding respect and equality, exposing the gap between America’s promises of freedom and its treatment of people like him.
The Reality Behind the Celebrations
- Violence
- Poverty
- Distrust between neighborhoods and police
These daily realities often make historical celebrations feel disconnected from the hardships people face.
Dignity: More Than Laws
- Education – schools must nurture respect.
- Justice – courts should uphold equity.
- Daily Interactions – everyday encounters shape dignity.
Having Black leaders in office has not automatically closed economic gaps or restored trust. Past promises were often unkept, leaving citizens to prove their worth repeatedly.
From Literacy to Legislation
The boy’s journey from learning to read to influencing national laws illustrates that speaking up and being seen are powerful forces. Baltimore should heed this lesson.
Students as Agents of Change
When students recite the boy’s words, they practice belonging in a society that values everyone. They test whether equality still matters today.
Leadership’s Choice
- Decoration – treating history as mere ornamentation.
- Learning – letting the past guide present actions.
Baltimore’s leaders must decide which path to take. The past should inform action, not just inspire pride.
A Continuous Fight for Dignity
The struggle continues daily in classrooms and on streets. The work does not stop when February ends; it must keep moving forward.
