historical understanding allows us to learn something, but nostalgia obscures our ability to learn by casting everything in a sepia tone. this new year's eve if you get a chance to raise a glass and sing, consider that that song actually asks us to have a clear-eyed view of history. yes, we've done great things together. we've also had struggles. this is also part of what i love about james well done johnson's negro national anthem "lift every voice and sinlg." they talk about the fair the past has taught us and the hope the president has brought us. understand, keep going. only nostalgia makes you believe we are worse off now than a century ago. this i know. despite the continuing inequalities in our country, there was no moment in the american story when it would have been better to be a black woman than it is right now.