Welcome to the #BlackBlogsMatter challenge! Throughout the 28 days of February, my posts will not (necessarily) be about HR, Leadership or Management topics.

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We didn’t come this far to only come this far.

We have to move up in order to move forward. Individually and collectively.

This is good, necessary and essential.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with moving up. I’d don’t understand the criticism of Black people who choose to pursue the education and opportunities that lead to high levels of achievement. I really don’t understand how we criticize ourselves for these choices.

The problem is people don’t really understand the difference between moving up and selling out.

Selling out is about compromising your integrity and authenticity for personal gain. It is about betraying your morals and turning your back on your upbringing in order to make money. It is forgetting where you came from and your struggle. It is being unwilling to help others to achieve things similar to what you have through mentoring and sharing.

We all have a responsibility to be helpful to others. We all have a responsibility to give back. We all have a responsibility to share our testimony and inspire others. We all have a responsibility to be our most authentic selves in all times and in all ways.

When you choose or refuse to give back to the organizations and communities that have helped you, you are a sellout. When you act unethically or allow discrimination to go on actively or passively, you are a sellout. When you don’t help people you know so their road to success is a little easier, you are a sellout.

Selling out isn’t exclusive to Black people. Anyone of any race, creed, color, gender, nationality or sexual orientation can be a sell out. At times and in some ways, we are all guilty of it.

We didn’t come this far to only come this far. But we cannot go any further if we don’t help each other and work together.

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Tune in tomorrow for Day 24 – #Hashtag Activism