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I Am History: A Black History Month Reflection on Legacy, Leadership, and Identity

Author: Desiree Whitehead

Black History Month always brings stories of the past into the present. The leaders, innovators, artists, and builders who created paths where none existed. But this year, the message that stayed with me most was simple and grounding. I Am History. Not because of titles or accomplishments, but because every step I take, every room I enter, and every decision I make becomes part of a lineage that continues through me.

Being a Black woman founder means I carry the weight of history and the privilege of shaping its next chapter. It means stepping into spaces that were not always built with us in mind and choosing to stand tall anyway. It means understanding the responsibility that comes with leading, growing, and building something real, knowing that the work I do now becomes a reference point for someone coming next.

This reflection is not about perfection. It is about presence. It is about ownership. It is about honoring the people who came before me while choosing to move with intention for those who will follow.

Leadership Through the Lens of Identity

Leadership is not neutral. It is shaped by experience, perspective, and identity. Every decision I make carries influences from the generations of Black leaders who moved with purpose long before I had the chance to. Their courage becomes the blueprint I reference, even when I am the only one in the room, and sometimes especially then.

Leading as a Black woman means showing up in places where the bar is both higher and unclear. It means navigating assumptions, expectations, and pressure with clarity and dignity. It means holding myself to a standard that honors both my story and the people who paved the way for it.

It also means being intentional about the spaces I build. Whether I am advising a founder, leading my team at Howl, or talking someone through their next steps, I know my leadership is not just influencing outcomes. It is expanding what leadership looks like for the people watching.

A few truths I hold closely:

  • My presence challenges narratives that once limited us.
  • My leadership is an extension of those who made space for me.
  • My story gives someone else permission to lead boldly.
  • My clarity helps someone else trust their own voice.

Pro Tip: Your identity is not a barrier in leadership. It is a lens that gives you perspective, empathy, and wisdom others cannot replicate. Use it.

Legacy Happening in Real Time

Legacy is often talked about like something that gets written at the end of a journey. But I see legacy differently. Legacy is happening now. It is in the emails I send, the decisions I make, the boundaries I hold, the voice I use, and the impact I create with my work.

Every strategy session where a founder finds clarity is part of my legacy.
Every workshop where someone finally understands their message is part of my legacy.
Every moment I choose courage over comfort adds to the story I will leave behind.

Legacy is not the loud moments. It is the quiet consistency. It is the work that is done with intention, not attention. It is the way we choose to move through the world long before anyone applauds it.

Legacy builds itself through:

  • The clarity you offer others
  • The steady progression you commit to
  • The people you lift as you rise
  • The boundaries you enforce without apology
  • The impact you create even when no one is watching

Pro Tip: Legacy is not found in the spotlight. It is found in the work. Build it intentionally.

Honoring Where We Come From While Shaping What Comes Next

Black History Month is a celebration, but it is also a reminder. A reminder that the work is not done. A reminder that our stories did not begin with us. And a reminder that we each carry a responsibility to push the narrative forward.

➤ I honor the past by choosing clarity over confusion.
➤ I honor the past by leading with integrity.
➤ I honor the past by showing up with purpose.
➤ I honor the past by building a company rooted in community, discipline, and vision.
➤ I honor the past by ensuring the next generation sees themselves in leadership, in strategy, in ownership, and in power.

I Am History is both an affirmation and a responsibility.
➤  It is a statement of identity and a promise to the future.
➤  It reminds me that what I build today becomes the foundation for someone else tomorrow.

Pro Tip: You are writing history whether you realize it or not. Be intentional about the story you want your work to tell.

Why This Matters Now

In a world that often tries to define us before we define ourselves, claiming I Am History is a reclamation. It is a way of choosing identity, grounding, and purpose. It is a reminder that my leadership is not isolated. It is connected to the leaders who came before me and the leaders who will come after.

This month is a celebration, but it is also a call. A call to lead with integrity. A call to honor our stories. A call to build with intention. And a call to take ownership of the legacy we are shaping every single day.

I Am History. And if you are building, leading, growing, or healing with purpose, so are you.

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