"Don't listen to those who say ‘you can’t.’ Listen to the voice inside yourself that says, ‘I can’"
Shirley Chisholm
Today, on Black History Month bonus day, I look back at my people’s harrowing journey in this country and Ms. Chisholm’s words seem so appropriate.
For hundreds of years, society has told us we can’t be free, can’t be equal, can’t be successful, can’t rise above. At every point, we have had to collectively tell ourselves we can.
Too often, though, the loudest voices discouraging us come from those who look like us, and sometimes those who say they want the best for us.
Too often, we have allowed the voices in our head to take up society’s chant: “you can’t, you can’t, you can’t.”
Our voices and our actions and our support for each other have to drown out that tired, untrue mantra.
Because one day, I truly believe we will see equity and equality in this country. But if that day comes and we’re still screaming, “you can’t, you can’t, you can’t” at each other and at ourselves, it won’t make a difference.
Take time today and every day to remind yourself and those around you that you can: you can be free, you can be equal, you can be successful – and you can thrive in the face of adversity because of the legacy of courage that courses through your veins.
If you keep telling yourself “I can,” before long you’ll be saying, “I did.”
For hundreds of years, society has told us we can’t be free, can’t be equal, can’t be successful, can’t rise above. At every point, we have had to collectively tell ourselves we can.
Too often, though, the loudest voices discouraging us come from those who look like us, and sometimes those who say they want the best for us.
Too often, we have allowed the voices in our head to take up society’s chant: “you can’t, you can’t, you can’t.”
Our voices and our actions and our support for each other have to drown out that tired, untrue mantra.
Because one day, I truly believe we will see equity and equality in this country. But if that day comes and we’re still screaming, “you can’t, you can’t, you can’t” at each other and at ourselves, it won’t make a difference.
Take time today and every day to remind yourself and those around you that you can: you can be free, you can be equal, you can be successful – and you can thrive in the face of adversity because of the legacy of courage that courses through your veins.
If you keep telling yourself “I can,” before long you’ll be saying, “I did.”