Black History Today 2021: A 'Vision' of joyful thanksgiving
/By Marcus Harden
If ya’ll know me, you know I’m a big kid and love most comic book adaptations. Alas, I found myself slowly enjoying the Disney+ series, “WandaVision.” Based on the love story of Wanda and Vision, it somehow also correlated with my reflection on writing the Black History Today series this past month.
It took me until the end of the series to realize the double entendre of the title, first thinking it was about Wanda and Vision, pursuing a life of peace and love, together. Yet (mild spoiler alert), what the show is truly about is the “Vision” that Wanda created to bring herself out of a great sadness — a vision of her sadness, yes, but more importantly her hope.
I had the same revelation while writing the BHT series this year. Maybe more than any year before, this year’s installment brought forth hope — even through a year that has brought so much sadness. People often ask why I began doing the series, which ironically came during just such a great period of sadness and transition for me four years ago. I grew weary in my community of all of these “experts” in whatever field being “flew’d out,” as the kids would say, when oftentimes the person next to me was equally talented and more well-versed in the local context.
As adults, we rarely have moments when we are fed into, emotionally and spiritually, being able to receive our flowers in our primes and not before we retire and or at our funeral where we can’t even appreciate them in the same way. There’s an old adage that says as you minister to others, you minister to yourself, and I found that to be so true this year in the writing as two major themes emerged for me.
People show us who they are, and we get to believe them.
The Maya Angelou quote, “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time,” is typically reserved for moments of trial, yet I found it to be the converse when it came to people who give selflessly to others. A little-known fact about the series is, they’re essentially surprise “love letters” to people I’ve had the privilege to share space with. Because of the surprise factor, I’m typically forced to do my own research, ask friends to fill in gaps and find pictures to accompany the people.
One thing through the picture-gathering process I notice is that the most difficult part isn’t finding a “good” picture, as they’re all beautiful people — it’s finding a picture of them alone. Without exception, the people who “give” invariably share even their picture space with others. While correlation doesn’t equal causation, it was a unique lens to see people through, that even on their social media platforms they share their light with others.
The Universe has unique timing.
I love surprises. Hence, part of the “cool” factor of BHT is in surprising people with these acknowledgements of who they are and their impact on the community and people’s lives. I don’t believe in coincidence. I firmly believe the universe is uniquely tied together — not preordained, but always in rhythm with purpose and love. This was affirmed for me by the sheer timing of the BHT tributes. Whether it was with a tear in my eyes joyfully celebrating Randi Jones-Gratton on what ended up being the day of court justice for the person who stole us from her way too soon, or realizing while crafting David Coven’s profile that it would be released on his birthday, the universe showed up and showed out.
Yet, the most powerful thing — and the true joy I get from these tributes — is in the comments and affirmations that come after. Often those words come at the exact moment we most needed to hear them.
These folks are beacons for all of us, choosing to live in their vision and not by sight. Yet for the rest of us, what a wonderful sight they often are to behold as they show up tirelessly for the betterment of so many around them. I often get a little sad when the month is over. There are enough great people in the world to fill up an entire calendar.
Yet, as Vision once powerfully stated, “A thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts... it’s a privilege to be among them.”
An incredible privilege, indeed.
Upendo,
MLH
Photo by Matt Halvorson
