There has never been a greater time to be black in the history of humanity. I mean, a black man – Barack Obama, has sat at the helm of affairs of the United States of America – not for one but two terms, and currently, the Vice President of this same country – Kamala Harris is of African descent too. Soon, the World Trade Organization will be headed for the very first time in history by a woman who is also of African descent and is in every way a Nigerian – Ngozi Okongi Iweala, who embodies everything we wish our nation could be. 

In the media and entertainment industry blacks have continued to set the pace and rule and the scene with the likes of media mogul Oprah Winfrey, the reigning queen of pop – Beyonce Knowles, her husband JayZ and Will Smith to mention a few. These individuals have redefined the industry and left legacies for generations to come. Indeed, their successes remain an inspiration to millions and billions of blacks around the world – little wonder ‘Brown Skin Girl’ was such a hit and interestingly enough it featured our very own WizKid.

The fashion industry has not been left out either. With the likes of Naomi Campbell, Agbani Darego and Rihanna, the industry has experienced an influx of premium brands as well as an amazing positioning of the black skin as being not only beautiful but exotic and sexy as well, especially when compared to the distant past when the definition of beautiful was likened to a certain complexion or certain physical features unique to a certain race. 

Medical sciences have also experienced and witnessed amazing innovations which can be traced to people of African descent. We have the likes of Patricia Bath, the first African American to complete a residency in Ophthalmology in New York and Benson Carson the world-famous pioneering brain surgeon who grew up in a single-parent home in Detriot and retired from the John Hopkins School of Medicine as a professor of neurology, oncology, plastic surgery and paediatrics. Indeed, during his medical career, developed he developed groundbreaking techniques to treat brain-stem tumours and revitalizing methods for controlling seizures! 

Wow! Blacks are definitely making waves around the world, and that’s something to be really proud of, but truth be told, we are not there yet. 

Africa still remains one of the poorest continents of the world, while in some traditions, young girls are still being married off at a tender age, thereby exposing them to various medical complications as well as crippling their potential as some of these girls’ have had to stop their education thereby aborting their dreams for greatness. 

Additionally, countless lives are being lost on a daily basis to illnesses that can be easily cured if our medical personnel have access to half of the facilities available in other developed countries. But it gets even more interesting. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of healthcare practitioners of African descent have been at the forefront of this storm, as studies and surveys show that majority of our people have been strategically placed in this situation, while a number of lives have been lost as a result of this. 

How about the continuous trend of racism? Just last year, the world went agog with the Black Lives Matter Campaign, sparked off by the brutal murder of hip hop artist George Floyd in Minneapolis Minnesota by police officer Derek Michael Chauvin on May 25, 2020. His case is just one in thousands as many of these actually do go unreported and uncelebrated, leaving wives as widows, children as orphans, and taking parents through the unbearable pain of burying a child or children. 

Yet, it becomes even more infuriating when such acts are perpetrated by blacks against fellow blacks. A countless number of lives have been lost due to gang fighting in various cities around the world. Worthy of note is the mega-talented Tupac Shakur (Tupac Amaru Shakur) alias Makaveli who was shot four times by an unknown gunman in a drive-by shooting in Las Vagas, which was closely followed by the murder of The Notorious BIG six months later. In Nigeria, TheEndSars saga still leaves a very bad taste in the mouths of many as the trigger hungry members of the Special Anti Rubbery Squad have ushered many into their graves, and as the Nigerian youths spoke up, even more individuals – unarmed citizens for that matter, were murdered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State, Nigeria, while all hell broke loose in different parts of the country. 

And then, there is the issue of corruption, inequality, hunger, poverty and illiteracy that plaque the people of our race. 

Indeed, as the world celebrates Black History Month, it is pretty important we seek ways to collaborate with one another to succeed, to help pull up our brothers and sisters all around the world, to lend a helping hand to nations in need, and stop improvising our nations as a result of the seemingly selfish attitudes of our leaders. Now is the time for change. A real positive change, not a political gimmick aimed at achieving a sweeping victory. Now is the time for our continent to reach the highest heights for which we have been called to, as against consistently seeking handouts from developed nations; to become the symbol of excellence, of civilization, and everything positive. 

The struggles of our ancestors must not be in vain. Our names and heritage must be proclaimed and celebrated as a race that indeed made a difference. 

I am made in the image and likeness of God! 

I am black and proud! 

How about you?