Honoring Black History Month
Each of us is on a journey. Sometimes, when we’re in the thick of it, it’s hard to see the path ahead of us—or to have the perspective to see how far we’ve come. This can be especially hard for our students, who are still young and figuring out who they are.
That’s why I love Black History Month. While I believe celebrating the stories of African Americans’ accomplishments in this country should be year-round, it’s nice to have time dedicated to remembering the people who came before us, who had such an impact on where we are now on this collective journey toward a more equitable world.
I know we have a long way to go. Tyre Nichols reminds us. He reminds us that we have a problem, and that we need to have more conversations. Maybe you know someone who died too soon. I grieve with you, and I grieve for this young man. We’ve seen this story too many times.
But we can’t forget about those other stories, the ones we’re seeing for the first time. Have you heard the name Claudine Gay? She’s the daughter of Haitian immigrants, which is my background. She will be the first Black president of Harvard University, announced last month.
Do you know who Nicole Lynn is? She is the first Black woman agent to represent a player in the Super Bowl. Her client is Jalen Hurts, the Eagles quarterback. Know how she got the job? She sent Jalen a direct message on Instagram, asking for a meeting. That’s how it started. It was a Hail Mary pass, a shot in the dark.
I share that story to bring some balance to this year’s message, to recognize all those people who came before us and took their shot, so that we could take ours. As educators and mentors, the greatest gift we give is the courage to stand up and advocate for yourself. The courage and confidence to take the shot.
We teach our students how to use all kinds of tools through their training at Job Corps. But the strongest tool of all isn’t a hammer. It’s your voice.
I wish you peace and growth as we observe Black History Month.