From Rosa to Jay-z: Reclaiming the narrative on Black brilliance

As an educator for 20 years, I’ve seen the same Black History Month lessons get dusted off and retold every February. Many of us can recount how Rosa Parks’ actions on that Montgomery, Ala. bus changed history, but I’d wager we don’t know much more than that.

Too often in Black narratives, we aren’t taught the circumstances that shaped the moment. Parks — a seamstress, a yogi and secretary for the NAACP — had been involved in the Civil Rights Movement for more than a decade. Her refusal to stand up from her seat that day was not spontaneous, it was planned.

She may have taken inspiration from 15-yearold Claudette Colvin, who, nine months prior in Montgomery, also refused to give up her bus seat. Parks and Colvin both took a page from Irene Morgan, who refused to give up her seat nearly a decade prior to her Montgomery counterparts.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott wasn’t a result of Rosa Parks resting her feet, it was a collective upswell, years in the making.

Stories of Black people are too often told through pain, pity or struggle, a storytelling method that is reductionist. When our stories are told, they lack depth and are restricted to “the first” and “the only.”

When Black History Month is treated as rote learning, we drain it of its magic.

It’s time for a new narrative on Blackness, one that centers Black love, joy, courage and hope. Telling a new story doesn’t mean rewriting history, it means teaching and discussing history in inspired ways that reclaim the narrative and celebrate Black brilliance.

Seeking out Black brilliance and talking about it with our children helps them — and us! — “flip the script” and articulate more complex stories. Doing so equips children with skills they can use as future policymakers, supervisors, organizers and facilitators.

Let’s look at Jay-z’s Dr. Dre Global Impact Award acceptance speech at this year’s Grammys.

He begins with gratitude for the award and respect for the music industry legends who cleared the way for him, including the award’s namesake, Dr. Dre.

Jay-z then spoke directly to the Recording Academy, encouraging them to “do better” in terms of crediting and awarding Black brilliance.

His speech has subsequently been reduced to calling out the Recording Academy for snubbing his wife, Beyoncé. But that story lacks context; his point is that the industry can do more to recognize Black recording artists and that he supports them “(G)etting it right. Getting it close to right.”

By acknowledging this larger context, we can engage in courageous conversations about Black brilliance that educate and foster connection with our children.

Here are some example prompts that you can use to connect with the children in your life about Jay-z’s acceptance speech, his genius and what it means in terms of legacy:

■ Explore personal reactions: How does Jayz’s speech make you feel? What messages have you received about Black people in the music industry?

■ Discuss the broader implications: How might his Grammy influence future generations? What do you think he means when he tells us to “keep showing up”?

■ Nurture self-pride: When did you feel proud of something you accomplished using your special gifts? How would you like to be celebrated for the brilliant qualities that make you who you are?

We need to teach every child in this country about the contributions of Black, brilliant men and women throughout history. But in doing so, we must also activate a new narrative that stops the hollow celebrations of “firsts” and starts celebrating what has and always will be true — Black brilliance is everywhere.

Embracing Black brilliance this month and beyond with intentional conversations helps foster connection with our children and gives them skills that lead us all to a future abundant in love and liberation.

Shawna Wells is the author of the children’s book “B is for Black Brilliance” and the founder and CEO of an organization by the same name, which is dedicated to centering, uplifting and affirming narratives of Black creativity, innovation and genius. She lives in Henderson with her family.