Madison County African American Historical Association President Dr. Mesha Jones delivered powerful remarks at the Black History Month celebration held at Antioch Baptist Church in Madison on February 15, 2026.
Her message included the following:
“There will be seasons when you want to give up. There will be moments when the weight feels heavy, when progress seems slow, when systems appear resistant, and when it feels easier to accept things as they are. But you cannot stand in the mindset that stagnation is unstoppable. Because what you repeatedly believe is what you repeatedly build. If you convince yourself that nothing will change, you will unconsciously construct limitations. If you believe barriers are permanent, you will design small futures. But if you believe growth is possible—if you believe your voice matters, your effort counts, and your future can expand—then you begin building something different. You begin building momentum. You begin building access. You begin building transformation.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, ‘If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.'”
Movement is required.
History is not behind you.
It is within you.
And the next chapter, the next breakthrough, the next structure is yours to create.
So my call to action for you is this:
Choose growth over excuses.
Choose discipline over distraction.
Choose courage over comfort.
Commit to your education. Protect your mindset. Surround yourself with people who stretch you, not shrink you. Refuse to repeat narratives that say you cannot win, cannot lead, cannot succeed.
Honor the structure that was built for you by building something stronger for those who will come after you.
Do not wait for permission.
Do not wait for perfect timing.
Do not wait until you feel fully ready.
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Build what you can.
Because legacy is not extended by accident.
It is extended by action.
Thank you for honoring our history.
Thank you for protecting our legacy.
And thank you for choosing to build what comes next.
Read her complete remarks here: Black History Month Celebration Mesha Jones Remarks
