Every February, we celebrate, analyze, and debate Black history. But what happens when the month ends? Too often, we treat history like an archive—something to be remembered rather than used.
To help me make Black History a 24/7/365 event, I created the concept of AfricanAmericanism (AAism), which says history isn’t just about the past—it’s a tool for navigating the present. It’s about making daily choices, recognizing power, and building something beyond survival.
The Tenets of AfricanAmericanism
AAism isn’t just a concept—it’s a way of living. It guides how Black people move through and beyond oppression:
- History as a Weapon and a Mirror – Reclaiming truth while questioning dominant narratives.
- Freedom as a Practice, Not a Gift – No system grants what we must take.
- Power as Reality, Not Illusion – Structural forces must be confronted, not just avoided.
- Liberation as Unfinished Business – Every generation picks up where the last one left off.
- Joy as an Act of Resistance – Black life isn’t just struggle—it’s love, laughter, and thriving.
Living Black History: The African-Americanist Path
AAism moves beyond remembering history to living it. It follows a four-fold path that has always shaped Black resistance:
- Testify – Speak truth, expose injustice.
Frederick Douglass made America confront its hypocrisy with his words and actions. - Unshackle – Release internalized oppression.
The Black Arts Movement redefined Black identity, unapologetically creating on its terms. - Walk in Power – Claim and use agency.
Madam C.J. Walker built an empire, proving financial freedom was possible. - Live Beyond Limits – Move from survival to self-determination.
Fannie Lou Hamer didn’t just fight for voting rights—she built Black political power.
No one will voluntarily liberate us. We must take, shape, and protect it.
How AAism Helps Us Remain Free
Let’s take the example of Private Equity State Capitalism (PESC). PESC overwhelms us through economic instability, media manipulation, and policy shifts that create uncertainty.
AAism shifts the focus from reacting to building.
– Cognitive Liberation Agency → Take control of the narrative.
– Emotional Sovereignty Agency → Stay grounded—don’t let crisis cycles drain you.
– Economic & Resource Agency → Build self-sustaining alternatives.
– Relational Trust Agency → Strengthen community bonds to fight isolation.
The goal isn’t just resisting extraction—it’s about creating a new way forward in which someone else’s system doesn’t dictate Black futures.
The AAism, AAvism, and Meditativism Approach
AAism doesn’t stand alone—it works alongside:
– AfricanAmericanvism – Turning liberation into action through strategy and institution-building.
– Meditativism – Strengthening emotional, mental, and spiritual resilience to sustain the fight.
Liberation isn’t just about resistance—it’s about building something better.
So, Now What?
The question isn’t how history will remember us. It’s how we are using history right now.
– What system are we done waiting on?
– What small step today builds momentum for something bigger?
– Where does our agency begin?
Black History Month is over. Those who have learned its lessons must carry them forward by remembering and applying them. Our responsibility isn’t just to know our history but to share it, act on it, and use it to shape the future.
We get up each morning and ask ourselves: What would Harriet do? Then, we Just Do It!