It’s the last day of February 2025. So much has happened in the world this month, but we must move forward in positivity. I believe all things happen for a reason and for a season. We must keep our eyes open to everything to navigate any unexpected events. Right now, in the U.S., there are people losing employment, people losing assistance, and people very afraid of what’s to come. On top of this each day people lose their life for a myriad of reasons. There is a higher power in control of when we depart this life. The other things rely on human operation.
With February being Black History Month, on this last day, I think about the ancestors. I think of those who fought hard to create a better future for myself and others who walk the Earth as “Black” people. They were told they were less than the majority their entire life. But, in the end they all never gave up and always fought for better outcomes. If they were not to see these changes, they kept the momentum for their children, grandchildren, and any other person they cared about. Now is the time to not be comfortable and create a similar mentality. We must think about others just as much as we think about ourselves.
On this last day, there is an unofficial campaign to refrain from purchasing from large corporations following the reversal of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). It’s to show the economic power of people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ communities. Supporting DEI is about making sure our country remembers it’s history. It’s history of treating others differently and how it has been engrained in our society for hundreds of years. We must remember there was a time women and Black people could not vote. During the HIV pandemic in the 1980’s and 1990’s people were discriminated against. The assumption during this time was that only people in same sex relationships contracted the virus, when in fact people got it through blood transfusions and heterosexual relationships as well. Supporting DEI is making sure we don’t go back to our countries earliest models.
There are many people including the elderly and people with disabilities who are at risk of losing funding. Signing petitions and/or calling local politicians in support of does not hurt. There are people being laid off from work suddenly in large numbers. You may not be affected, but speaking out against these procedures instead of supporting them says a lot. These are just examples, but the idea is to understand the why before judging. With February also being one of love, on this last day, let’s try to put love first. Move forward with an empathetic spirit to help in creating a greater society.