-"anytime you have a country that refers to itself at the free world"
-"I BarackHussein Obama do solemnly swear"
-"That in itself reflects lunacy."
I actually grew up in the deep south. My grandfather was the last principal of
the segregated high school in the county where my mother lived before integration
and so I grew up in an environment where access to education was seen as such a
gift and if you worked hard that education could really make a way out of
any circumstance. So when I think about Black History Month it reminds me of a
deep sense of where I come from of what unites us as human beings and of the
opportunity to pay forward the many sacrifices that were made so that we
would be able to do what we can today.
When I think of Black History Month and
I think of significance I think about the opportunity to pause and reflect and
really honor those that have come before us especially those that fought for
hard-won civil rights I also think about the importance of celebrating the
contributions in the arts and media in on historical contributions in the
sciences and the humanities because it's an opportunity to recognize that black
history belongs to all of us, to the collective, to all humans. When I think
about my own spiritual journey and I think of those that have contributed to
my own spiritual growth and development I think of two people Maya Angelou and
her writings and teachings as well as Oprah Winfrey and so for me when I think
of Black History Month is not just recognizing the larger contributions
that African Americans in the arts and history and science but
also the impact that it's had on me as an individual.
Black History Month to me
really takes time a reflection of the accomplishment of contributions the
black people have made to America, American history learning and retelling
stories to my children and family about Martin Luther King Fannie Lou Hamer
the story of Barack Obama become the first black president it's a great time
to reflect on the accomplishments and victories that really helped shape the
country you know as today but also expanded rights to everyone whether it's
voting rights civil rights or workers protections and so I think of a memory
of mine connected to Black History on November 4th 2008 I was in Grant Park in
Chicago election night when President Obama or
then-senator Obama was elected president and there in the crowd Oprah and Jesse
Jackson jr. confetti and celebration started and I was really one of those
moments in your life that you you're really like part of the history as it
was happening.
Black History Month means to me
commemoration, gratitude, understanding, plight and resilience. To me it means
learning from and accepting the past to forge the future each of us when we set
foot on this land we bring with us threads of our unique traditions
and experiences to make up the tapestry that is vivid that is the United States
of America and in this tapestry there are shadows, there is darkness, there is
light and I firmly believe that when people come together in the light in the
shining light we always win. So to all the brave women and men that
have gone before me, thank you for this present moment. Thank you.
When you study the history of you know Black History Month and you know that it
began in 1926 as just Black History Week as an effort by an educator at a college
campus you know to 50 years later in 76 you know to where we finally get it
recognized as an entire month you know and then you see the evolution
and the progress that America has made from the days of slavery and
Jim Crow to getting Thurgood Marshall finally
onto the Supreme Court. In 2008 we get Barack
Obama, the first African-American president and
the the sacrifice and the struggle and the triumphs that have been
made over the years and that's kind of what inspired me to even pursue a career
in policy, to take the progress that has already been made and to be able to
build upon and add to and to further the progress because even even though we've
come a long way there's always more work to be done.
Personally as a mother of two
biracial children it is really important to
provide my children with stories of influential African-American leaders
writers, poets, artists, musicians because I want them to know that they stand on
the shoulders of many many people who have come before them who have persisted
in their goals and their passions and despite obstacles have continued to
persist and strive for social justice.
As I've had the opportunity to reflect back
on what Black History Month means to me I've had the opportunity to think back
to Carter G. Woodson, who founded Black History Week when it's the first two
weeks in February and then also in 1970 when some students from Kent State
University decided to make it Black History Month. During the reflection that
I've had on Black History Month I had the opportunity to think about the times
that I've taught children about black inventors, starting with Garrett
Morgan who was the inventor of the traffic stoplight
Madam CJ Walker who invented the haircare products that allowed me to
keep my hair so nicely and my children's hair. Also Daniel Hale who was the
pioneer of open-heart surgery. Black History Month has given the
African-Americans in the United States opportunity to showcase their
contributions and to be recognized for all the things that they've done in the
United States to make our people better. I think they are all very very important
in our success and I'm very thankful to be able to share Black History Month.
The black community have personally inspired me as an Iranian-American immigrant.
I have been just wonderfully honored to know a lot
of friends in my community that I have learned from and of course been inspired
by by the legends in our history and I think we need to learn from our past and
our history and be able to lead with that in mind and with that kind of
inspiration and that's what the black community has offered in my life and I
believe offers to this nation. I truly value you I truly value the
commitment that you have to this country whether it's through your public service
whether it's their military, whether it's through our arts, sports, ingenuity you
are an inspiration to our community as a whole and including myself and I hope to
be able to follow your lead and I really congratulate and honor you and honor all
our African American and black community members and wish you a wonderful Black
History Month.
Here at Long Beach City College it's
very critical for us to teach Black History Month African-American history
and the teachings of dr. King and his contemporaries.
What that means is it's
critical that our students understand where they come, from what their history
is, what it means, what the impact was and how they can take that and translate
that into their lives and pay it forward and live their lives in the same manner.
So here at Long Beach City College it's important that we not just talk about
what we're going to do but help students translate this into action so for
example students can take the action of learning about African-American history.
They can take the action of joining a club such as UMOJA. They can take the
action of joining a mentorship opportunities such as our Men of Color
Program and they can participate in a variety of events where they learn more
about culture and are able to share that cultural understanding with others so
basically what we do here at LBCC is bringing Black History Month to life
weave it through the fabric of our lives and make sure that everyone understands
that it's not just a month in February it's the way that we need to live our
lives every single day.
I will be happy when Black History Month is more than
just a celebration month, it's a month where we celebrate the fact that we are
living this every single day of our lives.
Wouldn't that be a magnificent day. Wouldn't we have completed our job.
Wouldn't we have done our jobs well at that point.
That is my dream.
Dr. King had his dream.
I have mine.