Have you ever thought about who and what define your world? According to Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (1979), our world is comprised of five interworking systems. They are the microsystem – our immediate connections; the mesosystem – how our immediate connections interact; the exosystem – media and politics; the macrosystem – our cultural norms and beliefs; and the chronosystem – time and transitions. We may think that we are free agents, but our beliefs, attitudes and behaviors are truly impacted by the influences of this multi-layered world.

I think about current events in my city of Nashville. There was a shooting of a black man by a white police officer in one of our public housing communities on February 10, 2017. The man was my goddaughter’s cousin. Although I didn’t know him personally, I am connected to him. How does that shooting change my perception of that neighborhood? Of Nashville Law Enforcement? Of the safety of my two black sons?

Similarly, February 16, 2017 was the day our local immigrant students joined the national protest, A Day Without Immigrants, against the newly proposed immigration agenda. One of my best friends teaches at a local high school with the highest English Language Learner (ELL) population in the city. Her students have been coming to school afraid for themselves and their families, wondering who will be deported when. Again, I am connected, through the mesosytem, exosystem and macrosystem. How does the fear these students and neighbors carry influence my view of my city and my country?

The overarching question is how do I navigate my way in this big world? And just as importantly, how do I help my children make sense of it all? I believe the answer is stories. Bettleheim (1976) says that story helps to bring order to a child’s world.

History is the story of people. Like any good tale, this story includes adventure and intrigue, joy and sorrow. It is an account of impossible struggle and eventual victory…the story of what makes us human.

Reading about Wilma Rudolph’s perseverance to become an athlete after battling polio, about George Washington Carver’s creativity with the peanut, or about Ruby Bridges’ courage as she faced injustice inspires us to make good choices despite adversity.

Honoring our African-American brothers and sisters is particularly important because their part of our story was often ignored. Whether that snub came from arrogance or shame, setting aside the month of February to listen intentionally to these stories is recognition of their value and contribution to our culture.

Learning history teaches us how to live. We study the mistakes and successes of the past in order to live well today and in the future. As we read the stories of Duke Ellington, Phyllis Wheatley, Richard Wright and others, we hear the voices of those who have gone before, cheering us on as we run the race that is set before us.

And we find we are not alone…we are all connected in this big world!