Black voices within The Shorthorn newsroom carry individualistic stories. For Black History Month, The Shorthorn staff members step beyond the reporter's notebook to share our journeys and explore what it means to navigate life as Black students while carrying our cultures’ weight and wits. Figures of Black history News reporter Taylor Sansom credits her mother’s grit for balancing three jobs and attending college all while raising her. As a Black woman, she said she resonates with her mother’s drive and sees her as an inspiration. Sansom said when people think about Black history, icons like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks are ingrained in the minds of many. While these figures played a big role in the Civil Rights Movement, she said there is so much more to Black history. “There are so many other notable people that we should also be focusing our attention on,” Sansom said. “My younger sister, she’s in high school right now, and she had no idea who Emmett Till was because they want to teach parts of history where Black people overcame, but they never want to teach the uncomfortable parts.” Emmett Till was killed at 14 years old by two white store clerks, bringing nationwide attention to the racial violence and injustice prevalent in Mississippi, according to the Library of Congress. Generational divide and identity defined Design editor Haley Walton struggled with her racial identity and being “ostracized” by both Black and white communities. She has received criticism for not speaking “Black enough,” which she said in itself implies how Black people are supposed to sound. Such statements are harmful even to those who are not biracial. “I’ve always had issues with my identity in all different shapes and forms,” said Walton, who is mixed race Black, Swedish and Creole. Walton found that some believe coping mechanisms used in Black culture are deemed meaningless, including the divide between her family on historically negative slurs. She said her family has multiple generations of mixed-raced identities who all share unique perspectives. “It’s just two different generations finding different ways to cope,” Walton said. Illustrator Candys Mena said Black history has shaped her identity as an Afro-Honduran woman through “strength, pride and resilience,” drawing on the history of African Americans in her pursuits. “I have always kept the history of my African American brothers and sisters close at heart," Mena said. “Black History Month is a moment to reflect, respect, celebrate and share what makes us who we are, and I’ll always be proud of that.” Page designer Anayah Darrett said in a statement that both societal beauty standards and racial stereotypes significantly shaped her self identity, allowing her to challenge preconceived notions. “I am just a reserved, young Black woman living life — nothing more than that,” Darrett said. “Especially not an angry one.” Beyond the textbook Graphic designer Jordan Johnson said she hopes for a future where Black history is taught more engagingly and equitably. The current public education system presents Black history in an intangible way, leaving many students without a clear understanding. “History is a living, breathing thing — it is not meant to be passively taught and learned,” Johnson said. She said she spent her childhood in predominantly non-Black communities, so her mother set a strong foundation for Black history growing up by prioritizing her education. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve taken more initiative to learn on my own,” Johnson said. “My understanding of the true expanse of my history has grown far beyond the 400-year span they try to limit us to.” Celebrating through melody Growing up in a single-parent household, my father defied societal expectations by raising me himself, something you don’t often see in the Black community. The reality is engraved into me. It’s a truth I carry like a weight on my shoulder: I would always have to work 10 times harder than my non-Black peers. The consistent pressure coupled with ever-present shadows of racial bias created self-doubt. Every skill and endeavor I took upon myself was met with the internal question of “Am I good enough?” whispering self hatred and being overwhelmed with societal prejudice. It threatened to silence my voice. Within the complexity of Black history, music has played a huge role in it. I am inspired by the voice of Nina Simone, a singer, pianist and music arranger who used her craft as a weapon for the Civil Rights Movement. Her lyrics, which reflect pain and resilience, illuminate a path for us today. I find inspiration in today’s artists like Doechii, whose rhymes and unapologetic narratives continue that path of Black expression and empowerment. Music within our community is the sound of hope, unity and strength. It’s the heartbeat of Black history and continues to bring unity to the community. Celebrating Black history is more than mere observation. To celebrate means to come together even through the toughest of times and the division of our country or our community. We should always continue to celebrate and preserve what we have historically while also uplifting each other and building beyond our countless years of oppression. @PixaPerfect_ photo-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu