Over the course of this week I have been thinking of ways to improve my blog and the content I write.
As a result, I thought I should start with paying tribute to Black History Month. This month is always very sentimental to me because it is a time where I can look back and reflect upon all the amazing work achieved by many strong black individuals. The things that they have achieved are incredible and I will always remain grateful since their work has allowed me to dream high and achieve whatever I want to achieve without being limited by my skin colour.
From Rosa Park…
Who learnt to speak up and say “No” when refusing her seat. She has taught me that you shouldn’t let people walk over you. You are human and you deserve to be respected. Everyone is entitled to a human right regardless of the colour of their skin so speak up when you have been wronged. Too often we remain passive bystanders, we sit around and do nothing but its time to use our voices. Speak for what is right because like I mentioned in my ‘Freedom of Speech‘ post, not everyone in this modern age has the right to voice their opinion or the right to vote. Consequently, we should make the most of what we have in a positive way to ensure that the world we live in is a better place for everyone.
Another influential individual is, Nelson Mandela…
When he died, I couldn’t stop myself from crying because he has been and will always remain a key role model in my life. He endured 27 years in prison for a cause he was passionate for. He sacrificed a huge part of his life in order to ensure a greater amount of people could live a life – free of apartheid. He knew segregation was not right, but he didn’t stay quiet. He ensured that before he died, he would actively fight towards breaking what was the status quo in South Africa. He has taught me to always fight for what is right, regardless of the consequences. In order to create a change, someone has to ignite a fire and let it burn! One thing I have noticed, is that many powerful individuals have endured several hurdles along the way & they have received a lot of opposition during their plight. Regardless, they have learnt to “Keep Calm and Carry On.” They haven’t allowed people to knock them down. Even if they have fallen, they have brushed it off and got back up again. It doesn’t matter if you fail, just stay focused and determined in achieving your goal.
Finally, I wanted to also mention, Martin Luther King…
Just like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King was a key figure in achieving civil rights for black Americans in the 1950s/60s. He had a dream and made sure that he would do whatever it took to make it come true. He has taught me that the ‘sky is the limit’, there are no restraints on how high you can fly in order to achieve your dreams. He wanted white people and black people to be able to hold hands and unite as a community; fortunately, there is a high number of interracial couples in this day and age. At the time, a multicultural society e.g. in London, was impossible but times have changed and so have perceptions.
Those were just 3 very well known examples of individuals who have managed to help create a better society for me to live in. However, there are a lot more revolutionary people who have made a significant contribution to our society (if I listed them all, you would never see the end of this post).
I have no shame of the colour of my skin and I don’t feel any less different to those with a different colour to me. No matter what shade of black you are, remain true to your skin and love yourself! Nobody has the right to make you feel unworthy.
Sadly black people are still targeted and oppressed. The rise of social media is evident in illustrating this for example on public transport. #BlackLivesMatter and #HandsUpDontShoot are just two examples of campaigns fighting for better rights for black people. We have managed to come a long way but there is still more to come with our journey towards equality.
You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.– Michelle Obama
Haddy Jeng 
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