Marcus Garvey once said, “a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” I couldn’t agree more.

In the days following Beyoncè dropping “Formation,” and her Super Bowl performance, it’s great to see so many Black people; especially Black women come out in droves in defense of each other and all of our #BlackGirlMagic glory.

But in the same vein, many Black women, including myself, are proudly proclaiming “I love my Blackness” and walking around being “unapologetically Black”, we are also raising children — like Will and Jada and Beyoncè and Jay-Z.

So in the age of Jaden, Willow and now, Afro-sporting toddler, Blue Ivy, how can we as non-celebrities confidently raise unapologetically Black, “woke” children?

I honestly didn’t even think about it until my 6-year-old said something a few months ago that surprised me. It was right before Christmas. My son and I were walking in a park. He noticed scarves tied around the trees and asked, “Are those for us?”

I gave him the best answer that I could think of in the moment. 
“Honey, those are for people who are outside and cold. You already have a nice scarf to keep you warm.”

He wasn’t pleased. “No, no, no, I mean, are those scarves for people like us, you know, Black people?”

My bottom lip dropped to my feet. I knew that I’d been teaching him to love his Blackness, the skin that he is in and reminding him that our Black is beautiful, but I short-sided his 6-year-old intake of the all that information, plus what I am sure he gathered from being within earshot of the 5 o’clock news when I have it on.

I want to continue to cultivate what he already had identified within himself, as a Black boy, and yes, as painful as it is, with that, not everything is for us.

We watched the Super Bowl together, and I was reminded of that moment in the park, specifically his question, “Is this for people like us?” As Lady Gaga was belting out the US National Anthem, my son was sitting on my lap watching a video of the Black National Anthem being sung, because like many things in the United States, the US National Anthem is not for us.

It’s important to me to have my son not only understand his roots and where he comes from but also understand the power that is within himself as a Black person. I believe that Black children should be taught the Black National Anthem just like they are taught their ABCs, colors and numbers.

The Black National Anthem is a powerful showcase that the struggle is temporary. It beautifully honors our ancestors, their fight for justice and overcoming against all odds. Lyrics like, “Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us/Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us/Facing the rising sun of our new day begun/Let us march on till victory is won.”

The words by John Weldon Johnson provide hope, while teaching perseverance, and strength through adversity, similar to what the Cam Newton, Beyoncè, Will and Jada Smith demonstrate through their celebrity platforms.

Teaching the Black National Anthem to Black children, in an educational setting both at home and in the classroom will show them that they indeed have power to be unapologetic all the time, even when things aren’t for them.

Through the words of the Black National Anthem, children will gain understand that a way has been paved for them to greatly impact the world despite any challenges or circumstances they may face.