Our griot tradition is more important now than ever before

The recent executive orders restricting the teaching of Black history in schools are a reminder that we cannot continue to rely solely on institutions to tell our stories. When Dr. Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week in 1926, it was to celebrate the contributions of African Americans in a world that had largely ignored them. Negro History Week was eventually expanded to the entire month of February, but its purpose remains the same, and no executive order or political maneuver should change that.

Side note for the people in the back: Black History Month is in February because Dr. Woodson chose to celebrate Negro History Week to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, both of which are in February.

Just as the Harlem Renaissance gave rise to writers who redefined Black identity, today’s authors, educators, and creatives must ensure our stories continue to be told. Throughout history, African Americans have found ways to preserve and pass down our history, even when systems worked against us. Enslaved Africans relied on oral traditions to keep their legacies alive. The writers and activists of the Civil Rights Movement used literature to challenge oppression and inspire change. In modern times, independent Black publishers, social media influencers, and grassroots educators are continuing this legacy, ensuring that knowledge and pride reach our young people, both in and out of the classrooms.

We don’t need national holidays or political approval to remind our youth of their greatness. When mainstream media ignored Black stories, we built our own platforms—Jet, Ebony, Essence, and now podcasts, YouTube channels, and self-published books. We have always been our own historians, educators, and truth-tellers. 

This is not to say our holidays aren't important, because they truly are. I'm old enough to remember when Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday became a federal holiday in 1983, and it brings me great pride to think of my soror Opal Lee's fight to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. I, myself, created the Black History Month Literary Weekend to celebrate our culture of story-telling, ensuring the next generation understands where they come from and where they can go.

Yet, now, more than ever, the griot tradition is essential. We can no longer take it for granted. The responsibility to teach, uplift, and inspire falls on us. If we want our children to know their history and aspire for more, we must be the ones to tell them who they are. Let’s change the conversation—not just for a month, but for generations to come.

How well do you know Black history? Take our quiz to find out!