As part of Black History Month (BHM), YouTuber and comedian Lilly Singh has celebrated the annual observance by “reminiscing” on her time with Black Excellence figures and noted the importance of “allyship”.
To mark the occasion, Singh uploaded a carousel post to Instagram – which saw commemorative photos of the comedian with figures who represent Black Excellence.
Alongside the post, the former A Little Late with Lilly Singh host wrote an extended caption that first gave gratitude for having met the iconic celebrities over the years, before taking a more a staid tone to express BHM is about “recognising the culture” and “allyship”.
Singh began her caption, “It’s Black History Month and I’ve spent the past few days reminiscing on some the Black Excellence I’ve been privileged enough to meet over the years. People who truly inspire me. IG would only allow me 10 but there’s more.
“But Black History is about more than just pictures with celebrities (even though they are very cool!!) It’s about recognizing the culture and everything it has done and continues to do.
She continued, “Speaking from my own lived experience, Black Culture played a huge role in my upbringing. This was before the times of Never Have I Ever and Indian Matching and so I was raised by Fresh Prince, Family Matters, Sister-Sister and Smart Guy. I’ll never forget the day someone told me “your comedy mannerisms remind me of @willsmith!” It was such a compliment and made total sense. Im legit blushing just writing this.
“Even musically, my elementary and high school dances were filled with Dancehall, Reggae and Soca. And during lunches, I would run home to watch 106 & Park. Today, I have that extra bit of confidence during a dance battle because Sean Paul taught me from an early age. IYKYK
“All this to say that myself, almost all of my friends/cousins and many others have been influenced (and continue to be influenced) by the magic of Black Culture. Especially for South Asians who didn’t see themselves on screen, the dialogue between Black Culture and Indian culture has been a main character in our childhoods. And I’m so grateful for that magic. It’s made me who I am.
“But beyond gratitude, also comes allyship. Tbh, it should always be Black History month. And we should always be speaking up about inequality and injustices, no matter which month it is. The reality is that Black People continue to be mistreated, especially in a country that is supposedly a world leader. And that should bother us all… because we’ve all benefitted from the magic. So let us commit to doing what we can to support the Black community, whether that’s having tough conversations in person, donating to causes or supporting Black owned businesses. There’s things we can do everyday.
Singh concluded her caption” Happy Black History month! Here’s to a lifetime of learning, appreciating and fighting for what’s right! [red heart emoji].”
