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Black Resilience and its Impact

The history of the black community is plagued with social injustices. Despite the effects

of these injustices, blacks have shown a resilience that has made them an integral cog in global

development. Black brilliance is captured in numerous works of art like poems. Still I Rise by

Maya Angelou and Genedlon Brooks's Primer for Blacks. These poems outline how the black

community has embraced the hatred against them and turned it into a source of inspiration to

achieve greatness. The poems are a perfect illustration of the struggles that black people

encounter in a bid to succeed. The poems send a message that black resilience is a force to

reckon with and that blacks will continue drawing hope from the tribulations they encounter.

Black resilience is a product of their tainted history and the racial injustices suffered.

Black people have suffered humiliation and were denied dignity through slavery. The dark pat is

always a reminder for the black community that they deserve better treatment like every human.

As a result, black people must be resilient to achieve their desired treatment. The racial injustices

faced by the black community have denied them opportunities to compete favorably with other

communities. For this reason, resilience is the last result of creating opportunities or fighting for

equal treatment for opportunities. Angelou and Brooks document the desire by the black

community to succeed despite their tribulations. In both poems, black people are aware of the

prejudice held against them. They seek to use this hatred as a tool to inspire them to succeed.

Angelou writes, “...with your twisted lies, you may trod me in the very dirt, but like dust, I’ll
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rise”. (Angelou, 2-4). The statement illustrates how dominant groups use manipulative tactics to

destroy the reputation of the black community. However, their efforts fail to derail the back

community’s progressive agenda. Brooks also writes that “the conscious shout to the slack in

black is it’s great to be white.” (Brook, 12-13). Brooks’s statement affirms that black people are

proud of their race and must not conform to supremacist ideologies to succeed.

Black people are aware of their contributions to global development. The input of

members of the black community had ensured economic development, especially when they

were forced to work as enslaved people. Further, their contributions are evident in global peace

as they have participated in wars to achieve peace. Black resilience continues to impact the world

positively as black people are involved in all sectors that inspire global growth. The awareness of

their contributions is evident when Angelou writes, “Does my sassiness upset you?” (Angelou,

6-7). Angelou’s statement portrays black people as confident regardless of their hate against

them due to their skin tone and historical background. Brooks also states, “the word black has

geographical power, pulls everybody in.” (Brooks, 16-18). This statement asserts that the black

community is spread worldwide, and they account for a significant proportion of the global

population. Therefore, the black community possesses the power to influence events globally.

The awareness levels portrayed by the black community are an essential source of pride and a

reminder that black influence has a role in developing humanity.

Black people understand their history and use resilience to amend the injustices

against their heritage. The essence of heritage for the black community is to remind them

of the atrocities they have suffered and struggle to avoid future atrocities against the

community. Further, understanding their history is an integral source of knowledge on

how the world perceives the community. Through this knowledge, the black community
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has resilience as the only tool to rewrite their history. The awareness and pride of their

heritage is evident when Angelou writes, “I am a black ocean, leaping and wide, welling

and swelling I bear in the tide.” (Angelou, 31-32). The statement proves the pride in

being a black individual and the desire to continue safeguarding black heritage while

reclaiming blak dignity. Brooks also adds that, “to salute and to love the fact that we are

black, our ultimate reality.” (Brook, 41-42). The phrase states that black people are proud

of their racial background and heritage. The contentment in their background inspires a

sense of being a special community that is envied by others. As a result, black people

must be resilient to maintain their influence and keep detractors envious.

Racial and social injustices against black individuals have never hindered

progression. Members of the black community continue to show the importance of

resilience and its advantages. Their positive attitude despite the injustices they suffer is a

source of inspiration for the importance of humanity. Further, black people illustrate that

determination can bear fruits regardless of the tribulations encountered. Black people also

teach that disparities in skin tone do not define humanity. Instead, humanity is pegged on

indulging in activities that impact the world positively. The moral lesson in black

resilience is to avoid dwelling on the past and focus on self=development to secure a

future.

Works Cited

Angelou, Maya. Still I Rise. Random House,

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Brooks, G. Primer for Blacks.