Rooted in Resilience, Freed by Faith

Well, ladies, I could never let this month go by without celebrating the richness of my melanin. I have to take a moment to honor the men and women who came before me, the ones who paved the way, broke barriers, and made history so I could walk in confidence in this beautiful brown skin.

But our history is not just one of triumph. It is layered. It is complicated. It started with a people taken from their land, stripped of their names, their families, and their freedom. Yet, even in the darkest moments, they carried something that could not be stolen. Their resilience, their faith, and their fight.

Because of them, I get to stand here today. Because of them, I get to dream, to move, to create, to love, and to take up space without apology. I think about the sacrifices, the marches, and the risks taken by those who refused to accept oppression as their final story. Harriet Tubman, who walked toward danger so others could walk in freedom. Dr. King, who dared to believe in a future that looked different from the present. So many women, unsung and unrecognized, who held their families together and built their communities with nothing but faith and determination.

Their fight was not just for one race. It was for justice, for dignity, and for something better.

Physical freedom was won through battles, sacrifices, and an unshakable belief in something greater. But the reality is, chains are not always visible. Slavery is not just a moment in history. It is a condition that has existed since the fall of man. People can walk free in the world and still be bound in their hearts, minds, and souls.

Because oppression is not just a history lesson. It is a human condition. It may look different now, but people all over the world, from every culture and background, still experience bondage. And not just the kind that laws can fix. Some of us are bound by fear. By guilt. By cycles we do not know how to break. By the belief that we will never be enough.

And that is where Jesus comes in.

Slavery, oppression, and injustice are reflections of the fallen world we live in, but Jesus came to bring true freedom that no man can take away. Through His death and resurrection, we are no longer bound by sin, shame, or fear. We are called to walk in the ultimate freedom that comes from knowing Christ.

Sin has held people captive in ways that no movement or protest could ever undo. It keeps people bound in cycles of fear, guilt, and hopelessness. But just as history shows us the fight for freedom, faith shows us the only One who can truly set us free. No chains, no past, and no shame have the power to hold us when we surrender to the One who came to break every stronghold.

I think about the beauty of my heritage, and I am proud. I think about the beauty of salvation, and I am humbled. One reminds me of where I come from. The other reminds me of where I am going.

So, as this month comes to an end, I celebrate. I celebrate the strength and legacy of my ancestors. I celebrate the progress we have made and the work still ahead. But most of all, I celebrate the freedom that can never be taken. The one that comes from Christ alone.

Because of them, I stand.

Because of Him, I am free.

-Chassitie L.