by Brittney Perry

Regrettably, culture is often characterized by only trendy tangible elements that regularly come and go, however, culture also encompasses the intangible threads that connect a people who share common interests and common goals — goals and aspirations that traverse through generations and span across borders and beyond waters. Culture sets the stage for how we interpret, perceive, and respond to the social realities around us. Culture creates and cultivates our individual identities within our community. It influences our thoughts and drives our actions. It forms our foundation and shapes our behavior. Culture is the essence of who we are!

The economic growth, the comprehensive advancement, and the successful sustainability of the African American community must be an endogenous effort. We must go within to grow without. We must know, love, and trust who we are before we can ever truly grow, evolve, and thrust ourselves into the stratosphere beyond excellent and extraordinary and shift from surviving to thriving!

If you’re ever confused about what tangible and intangible elements are encompassed by BLACK CULTURE, here’s a list to name a few:

Flavorful food is Black Culture
Exceptional Music is Black Culture
Remarkable Rhythm is Black Culture
Exquisite Fashion is Black Culture
Impressive Hair is Black Culture
Resilience is Black Culture
Achievement is Black Culture
Influence is Black Culture
Creativity is Black Culture
Productivity is Black Culture
Determination is Black Culture,
Growth is Black Culture
Literacy is Black Culture
Unity is Black Culture
Love is Black Culture
Faith is Black Culture
Hope is Black Culture
Trust is Black Culture

Oftentimes we
say we’re “Doing
it for the culture,”
when in actuality
it’s the Culture
that does it for us.