The Story of Us: How African American History Shapes America’s Present
Think of America as a tapestry. At first glance, you might see the broad strokes of its pattern, but look closer – really closer – and you’ll find that some of its strongest threads are dyed in the experiences, triumphs, and perseverance of African Americans.
These threads run deep. They’re in the rhythm of the music we love, from the revolutionary jazz of Miles Davis and Nina Simone, to the poetic storytelling of Toni Morrison that changed American literature forever. They’re in the words we speak, the food we eat, and the very ways we define freedom.
But this isn’t just about cultural contributions. Consider Fannie Lou Hamer, who transformed American democracy by founding the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and fighting for voting rights while declaring she was “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Her courage didn’t just challenge the political system – it rewrote the rules of civic engagement and showed us what grassroots leadership truly means.
In our courtrooms and classrooms, brilliant minds like Thurgood Marshall reshaped American justice long before he became the first Black Supreme Court Justice. As a lawyer, he won 29 out of 32 cases before the Supreme Court, each victory chipping away at legal discrimination and setting precedents that protect all Americans’ rights today.
In our laboratories and research centers, African American innovation has pushed humanity forward. Dr. Mae Jemison didn’t just become the first Black woman in space – she’s now leading the charge in using space technology to improve life on Earth. Dr. Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. broke through the sound barrier and racial barriers, becoming the first African American to reach the rank of four-star general in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The story continues in every field. When Percy Julian synthesized medicines from plants, he wasn’t just breaking ground in chemistry – he was making essential medications accessible to millions. When Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to Congress and declared herself “unbought and unbossed,” she wasn’t just making history – she was changing our very understanding of what leadership looks like.
In business and technology, pioneers like Madam C.J. Walker built empires that did more than create wealth – they created possibilities. She became America’s first self-made female millionaire while employing thousands of Black women and showing them paths to economic independence. Today, innovators like John Thompson, who transformed the tech industry as IBM’s first Black CEO, continue to prove that excellence knows no color.
The legacy of writers and thinkers like James Baldwin and bell hooks goes beyond literature – they gave us new ways to understand ourselves and each other. When Baldwin wrote about love and identity, or when hooks challenged us to think differently about gender and race, they weren’t just writing books – they were creating frameworks for understanding that we still use today.
This history isn’t just African American history – it’s American history. It’s your history. My history. Our history. It’s the story of how we became who we are, and it lights the way forward to who we can be.
Consider the impact of Robert Abbott, who founded the Chicago Defender newspaper and used it to spark the Great Migration, forever changing America’s demographic landscape and cultural makeup. Or think about Dorothy Height, who worked tirelessly for decades at the intersection of civil and women’s rights, showing us how different movements for justice strengthen each other.
The next time you use a traffic light, remember Garrett Morgan, who invented the three-position traffic signal. When you see a home security system, think of Marie Van Brittan Brown, who invented the first home security system in 1966. These inventions weren’t just technological advances – they were improvements to everyday life that we all benefit from today.
And that’s the most inspiring part of this story: it’s still being written. Every breakthrough by a Black scientist, every cultural shift led by Black artists, every barrier broken by Black entrepreneurs adds new dimensions to our collective story. From Bryan Stevenson’s fight for criminal justice reform to Kizzmekia Corbett’s crucial role in developing the COVID-19 vaccine, African Americans continue to shape our world in profound ways.
This isn’t just history in textbooks. It’s living, breathing wisdom that teaches us how to face our own challenges, how to dream bigger, how to be better. It shows us that change is possible, that persistence matters, that excellence, though often overlooked, always leaves its mark.
So let’s not just remember this history – let’s live it. Let’s honor it. Let’s continue it. Because the best way to respect the path that’s been carved out before us is to keep walking forward, together, toward that ever-brighter future that those who came before us dared to imagine.
Dr. Alonzo Williams Jr.