Growing up in Orangeburg, I didn't know that I lived in the 'corridor of shame.' I was the son of a single mom who learned to read from comic books. My grandparents helped raise me.
Every February, we reflect on and honor the achievements, struggles, and icons that comprise Black history. As a proud, Black man running for office and raising two young, Black boys in the South, I am acutely aware that I stand on the shoulders of giants.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of honoring the contributions of Black figures in history while acknowledging personal responsibility as a leader and role model.
In this quote, Jaime Harrison reflects on the significance of Black history, touching upon the challenges and triumphs that have shaped the community. He conveys a deep sense of pride in his heritage, recognizing that his own achievements are built upon the legacy of influential Black leaders and icons. This acknowledgment extends to his role as a father, where he strives to instill the same pride and awareness of their history in his sons, ensuring they understand their roots and the giants whose efforts have paved the way for their future.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during Black History Month celebrations to inspire discussions about heritage.
More from Jaime Harrison
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Well into the 20th century, black people spoke of their flight from Mississippi in much the same manner as their runagate ancestors had.
For one thing, before the 20th century, there were plenty of genocides. We tend to forget about them, partly because they weren't as well documented and partly because, until recently, people didn't care. We used euphemisms like 'sackings' and 'sieges' instead of calling them 'genocides.'
I think we continually need to understand how important an event the war was - how defining, how central to who we are. Everything that came before it led up to it, and everything of importance to this country - at least up to 1940 - was a consequence of it. Even now there's an echo of the war, however faint, in almost everyone's life.
Use it, enjoy it, but always handle history with care.
For 200 years, the dominant powers have also been the colonial powers: the European countries, the U.S. and Japan. They have never been required to pay their dues for what they did to those whom they possessed and treated with contempt.
Germany has spent the decades since World War II in national penance for Nazi crimes. America spent the decades after the Civil War transforming Confederate crimes into virtues. It is illegal to fly the Nazi flag in Germany. The Confederate flag is enmeshed in the state flag of Mississippi.