Regina Slaughter Shares Thoughts on Black History Month’s Significance in Our Community

Amity Foundation’s Senior Vice President of California Services and long-time faculty member Regina Slaughter recently spoke on our community call about what Black History Month means to Black Americans in Los Angeles, throughout California and across the nation. We hope you all can take a just a few moments out of your day to reflect on Regina’s thoughts below:

Dear Community,

February is designated as Black History Month, and it is essential to reflect on Black Americans' true history, a history of survival and celebration amidst pain and oppression. It is a time to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans who have produced beautiful and challenging works of art, advanced the cutting edge of science, and lived lives that anyone could be proud of, all while having to overcome the lingering and blatant racism ingrained in our country’s culture since its founding.

It's crucial to recognize how our education system has failed to teach accurate history regarding Black and Indigenous communities and individuals. The perspective provided is increasingly dictated by those who wish to hide the shame of America’s most important failures, afraid that the knowledge of slavery and genocide will make some people uncomfortable. In light of this, it is up to us to take the time to prepare, learn, and remember so that we don't forget - especially during this month. 

Let us also remember, as Martin Luther King Jr. did, that the struggle for true freedom, peace and justice for Black Americans is part of a larger struggle encompassing all marginalized people, in America and elsewhere.

Black Americans continue to make significant contributions to history, and as allies, we have to uphold the concept of loving our neighbor and embracing our fellow Americans. Let's not forget that Black History is American History and must be respected.

In Solidarity,
Regina Slaughter
Senior Vice President of California Services