Why Preserving Our Culture Is Important
There’s something powerful about knowing where you come from — the places, people, and stories that shaped you.
But in a world that moves so fast, it’s easy to forget that preserving culture isn’t just about holding on to the past; it’s about keeping it alive in the present.
Preservation, to me, means honoring the voices that came before while making room for the voices that are rising now.
It’s not nostalgia — it’s legacy in motion.
The Living Thread of Culture
Culture lives in everything we do. It’s in the way we cook, the music that moves us, the words our grandparents used, and the rhythms that tell our stories without needing translation.
But when we don’t take time to preserve, teach, and document these things, they fade — not because they weren’t valuable, but because no one paused long enough to pass them on.
When we lose connection to our culture, we lose a part of ourselves.
Preserving culture doesn’t mean resisting change. It means making sure that as we evolve, we carry our roots with us. It means using today’s tools — technology, art, storytelling, and innovation — to protect yesterday’s wisdom.
Why It Matters
For me, this isn’t just a professional pursuit — it’s personal.
Every project I create, every performance I choreograph, and every story I tell is an act of preservation. I’m constantly asking myself: How do we keep our traditions alive in modern ways? How do we ensure our children know the names, songs, and stories that shaped us?
When we take time to preserve, we do more than protect memories — we give future generations a foundation to stand on.
Because when you know your history, you move differently. You speak differently. You create differently.
Preservation gives us direction. It reminds us who we are — and whose shoulders we stand on.
What We Can All Do
You don’t have to run an organization or start a movement to preserve culture. You can:
Ask your elders about their stories — and record them.
Teach a young person a recipe, a dance, or a phrase in your family’s language.
Support local artists who carry cultural narratives through their work.
Write, film, sing, or paint something that reflects where you come from.
Preservation starts in small, intentional moments. It begins with care.
A Thought to Carry With You
If we don’t tell our stories, someone else will — and they might not tell them right.
So we have a responsibility, not just to remember, but to reclaim.
Every time we create, share, and teach, we’re saying: We were here. We are here. And we’re still creating.
Preserving culture isn’t about the past — it’s about the future we want to build.
Keep the Conversation Going
I shared more of my heart and perspective on this topic in my latest YouTube episode, “Why Preserving Our Culture Is Important.”
If this message resonated with you, I’d love for you to take a few minutes to watch the full conversation here:
Watch on YouTube
It’s a deeper dive into what preservation looks like in my life, in my work, and in the communities I serve.
After you watch, I’d love to hear your thoughts — what culture means to you, and how you’re preserving it in your own way.
With gratitude,
Leigha T. Porter