(ThyBlackMan.com)
@BritniDWrites – @EBONYMag; “This win hopefully brings hope and change to some of the issues going on.” #BeingABlackGirlIsLit esp. in #RIO
When was the last time African Americans, Haitians, Hispanics, and other people of color and culture were brought together and celebrated their diversity? When President Obama was sworn in as the First African American President people cheered and celebrated. They celebrated being Black, they celebrated being Brown, they celebrated being African. They celebrated their color and culture.
When Mayor Alvin Brown was elected the first African American Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida African Americans celebrated.
EBONY MAGAZINE ?@EBONYMag “While cheering on #SimoneManuel, can’t forget that racism kept
Blacks from learning to swim.”
History is being made by women of color and culture and heritage, they made not just Olympic history, they have made history that will span time and space. Parents ill name their daughters every 
imaginable combination and some will even try to name their sons as well. This is not an exaggeration because people will talk about where they were, who they were with and how inspired they were when our women of color and culture won gold, silver and bronze.
This is not only a time to celebrate, but a time to teach and re-awaken the need for homes of color and culture to teach their children about their heritage. To celebrate the melanin in their skin, to celebrate their hair as Natalie Griffin does in #MoxieGirl to embrace their shades of greatness and beauty that they have. Girls and boys can celebrate because they do matter, they can make a change and they are powerful in great ways.
Their color is not a disability, but an opportunity to re-awaken in them their drive and desire for success and celebrate the elders that sacrificed their very lives so we can rise beyond our wildest expectations and continue to rise, breaking class ceilings that are put in place by people that fear people of color and culture for their untapped talents and abilities.
The opportunity to smash mirrors of self-doubt, self hate, and low self-esteem.
“Cause I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.” M. Angelou
Rise, rise, rise and continue to rise, not just in sports, but in academics. Don’t let the celebrations stop here, continue them as schools start. Celebrate academic achievements as well. Thank you to my sister T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh ?@tkeyahcrystal – http://www.tkeyah.com/ #DeltaSigmaTheta for showing these great images that I use in this blog to bring attention to these wonderfully talented Olympic women. Mass media has too many times painted a picture that women of color are second class to others of lighter european complexion, they are not as intelligent or as talented. These Olympics and other events not just sports in nature have shown that women of color and culture are talented, intelligent, creative, innovative and powerful.
“This is for all who… will come after who believe they can’t do it.” Simone Manuel
This is the perfect opportunity to make sure our toddlers, children, youth, teens, and young to adult women know that they are loved, supported and appreciated. What more motivation than to share the triumphs of our Olympians to celebrate their accomplishments through the sacrifices of hard work, dedication, discipline, commitment and professionalism. It takes a village to make sure our innovators and smart creatives are growing in the direction they need to be. People of color and culture we can celebrate today, but tomorrow we need to make sure our children of color and culture are celebrated for their academic accomplishments through all levels of education.
Teachers need to have these images in their classrooms to motivate all their children, especially their children of color and culture to motivate them, to inspire them and to ignite them in body and spirit. Imagine how our students could excel if they have the support like these Olympians, imagine if our young creatives are cheered for their academic successes during the 180 days of instruction. Imagine our children that struggle and have IEP’s are given the support and attention as the athletes we celebrate. IMAGINE…..
Building Olympians takes determination, it takes sacrifice, it takes having a dream and a support system. Parents of color and culture need to learn from these lessons and importantly apply them to their children as the school year begins. Work with teachers as coaches’ work with their athletes.
The Olympics is more than a feel good opportunity it is a window to what children of color and culture can accomplish if given support and not judged, mocked, ridiculed. Children of color and cultures accomplishments are not based on zip code, area code and if they receive free or reduced lunch. That should not matter, only that they are capable and able.
Begin to look at all our children of color and culture as Olympians, treat them as winners and cover them in prayer.
Resources used for this blog:
Senior Digital Editor – @EBONYMag
Black Girl Magic – #BlackGirlMagic
Being A Black Girl Is Lit – #BeingABlackGirlIsLit
Moxie Girl: @moxiegirlcomics
Staff Writer; William D. Jackson
Find out more about this talented writer over at; OCS For Education.
