There is a rhythm to our history, a drumbeat that has never stopped. It beats through centuries of struggle and triumph, from the stolen shores of Africa to the sugarcane fields of the Caribbean, from the cotton plantations of the Deep South to the streets where civil rights were demanded, and from the battle cries of yesterday to the boardrooms, classrooms, and communities of today. We have come a long way, guided by our ancestors, we bear the touch of power and Pride.
To stand firm is not to stand still. It is to plant your feet like roots and lift your head like an Iroko tree, the forest giant that has weathered every storm, the unshakable presence that brings forth souls for the newborn. Standing firm in power is to remember that we come from kings and queens. Standing firm in pride is to honour our visionaries and builders, our freedom fighters and dreamers who refused to bow to injustice.
Standing firm in power and pride is not about arrogance; it is about courage. It is about saying, ‘We are here. We belong. We matter. It is about insisting that our children inherit not just the pain of the past, but the pride of our progress and the invisible power that propels them to a better future.
And so, as we gather in this month of remembrance, let us celebrate not only what we have endured but what we continue to create. Let us celebrate our rhythm that cuts across generations, the heartbeat of our survival and our joy. Let us celebrate our culture that continues to influence art, language, style, politics, and the very soul of society.
Our music still moves the world. Our words still challenge the silence. Our presence still shifts the atmosphere. Our excellence continues to break barriers and redefine what is possible, reminding the world that we are more than survivors; we are innovators, leaders, and torchbearers of a brighter tomorrow. And our resilience still lights the way forward, reminding us that we are not just part of history, we are still making it.
To the young, you are the new torchbearers. Carry the flame with conviction, with pride and honour. To the elders, your wisdom is the compass that keeps us on course. To the rest of us in the middle, let us not lose heart or be tired. The march toward justice is long, but every step taken in power and pride leaves a footprint for someone else to follow.
This Black History Month, let us rise, not as shadows of past injustice, but as architects of what is yet to come. The drumbeat continues. Stand firm. Stand proud. Stand together.
The future I see is bright!
By Chris Kolade.
October 2025
