Black History Month: Restoring Unity in our community

Black History in many aspects can be a mystery to those who aren't familiar with history before slavery. Slavery, one of the most horrific events in all of our history, seemingly has a theme and purpose to only identify the oppression of Black people and not the civility that our community once stood for. Our roots, ancestry, homeland, and culture while stripped completely away from us, have by far been the most damaging factor that has dominated our communities for centuries and in many aspects appear irreparable. What then becomes the glue that restores unity in our community since the atrocities of slavery and embedded laws and policies lend nothing more than restriction?

How do we find our rhythm and commit to restoring the values of family, faith, and unity?

The concept of community, then, brings the past, the present, and the future together into the here and now, and it brings the spiritual and the material together. The belief is that all members of a lineage form one community, whether they are dead, born, or unborn. This concept is the traditional focus of the African Community.

To achieve unity and civility, the restoration of the traditional family structure is needed. However, this move forward welcomes many barriers that stem from the disruption of the Black male and in many cases Black females from their children during slavery. What we now have come to understand is the perpetuated cycle of dividing the Black household as a strategic plan that excluded fathers from the home, leaving Black mothers on the front line in their homes and communities.

America's separate and unequal neighborhoods did not evolve naturally or result from unfettered market forces. Rather, they resulted from plans, policies, and practices of racial exclusion and disinvestment that primarily targeted Black people and laid the foundation for the segregation of other people of color. communities transitioned from a spiritually competent, inclusive, and cohesive model to a social, political, and economically marginalized.

When considering the past challenges and where we are today, intentional focus must be given to establishing and maintaining a cooperative economy. "The Power of the Black Dollar" empowers through understanding, suggesting ways to invest in black-owned businesses and build networks. Education is key, to helping black consumers make informed financial decisions that foster wealth and local prosperity" (Colson, 2023).

Let's work together to reinvest in building civility in Fairburn! Together we can restore unity!