2/28/2021 1 Comment Celebrating black history monthEach February marks the celebration of the various accomplishments and
contributions made by Black individuals in history and modern-day society. While Black History Month began in the United States and focuses on Black Americans, the celebration of Black figures and their contributions have expanded globally and now includes the acknowledgement of Black figures worldwide. What once was only a week of celebration, known as “Negro History Week”, has become a source of joy, pride, and resistance for Black people and Black descendants of the African diaspora. Black historical and modern figures have completely revolutionized various aspects of society including art, music, science, engineering, medicine, and education. Here at Children Beyond Our Borders, we believe that education = empowerment and would like to highlight the great strides made by Black historical and modern figures in the field of education. In the United States, the fight for education has been an incredibly arduous one. During the Jim Crow era, most states (Southern ones in particular) upheld the “separate but equal” ideology. However, for Black Americans, separate was anything but equal. The disparities between the resources, funding, educators, and education Black students (along with other ethnic and racial minorities) received could in no way compare to the schooling of their White counterparts. This ultimately led to the 1954 landmark Supreme Court case of Brown vs. Board of Education – the case that unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. While the nation’s highest court ruled in favor of desegregation, society did not change overnight. The cases of Ruby Bridges and Little Rock Nine are a testament of how much harder Black individuals still had to fight for their human right to an education. At the young age of six years old, Ruby Bridges made history when she become the first African American child to integrate into an elementary school in the South (six years after Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka). To keep Bridges, and other Black and African American students out of the school, students were required to take an admissions test, which Bridges, and five other students, passed. Due to threats of violence and extreme opposition, Bridges and her mother were escorted by federal marshals each day that year; she did not miss a single day of school. Bridges successfully graduated from a desegregated high school and continues to work as an activist today. In 1999, she established the Ruby Bridges Foundation where she continues to fight against racial injustice and advocate for equity in education. The fight for education did not stop at schools providing a K-12 education. Black activists also fought for a higher education, ultimately establishing their own institutions after decades of rejection from what are now known as Predominantly White Institutions. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) served to meet the needs of bright youth, creating a space of their own to pursue higher education. It is because of the advancements made by HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) are also able to serve the needs of students in these communities to promote education equity for minority students. Today, many Black leaders are still fighting to make headway in education for marginalized groups, especially in Black and Latine/x communities. Afro-latine/x leaders in education are making strides to make education accessible to disadvantaged students. Afro-latine/x students are especially at prone to encounter difficulties in education due to factors such as self or family immigration status, lingual barriers, systemic racism, xenophobia, and first-generation status. To make a difference, people such as Marco Davis, Brayan Guevara, and Nodia Mena have stepped up to the plate to start bridging the gap. Marco Davis, President and CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), works to support the next generation of Latine/x (especially Afro-latine/x) leaders by offering fellowships and internships at the nonprofit organization, encouraging professional development for prospective workers in government and policy. Brayan Guevara is an Afro-Honduran college student and teacher’s assistant in North Carolina who is studying to become a teacher. He shares his love of teaching with his mother, Nodia Mena, a public-school teacher, hoping to increase representation and visibility for Afro-latine/x students. Together, they work with the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, to change the way teachers interact with minority students and encourage them to accomplish their greatest aspirations. While these events focused on Black and Afro-descent Americans, the oppression of Black people is not restricted to the United States. The systemic oppression, anti-Blackness, and racism directed towards Black people can be found all over the globe. It is especially apparent in the exclusion of Afro-Latine/x people from Latinidad (despite the fact that over 90% of African enslaved people ended up in Latin America) and Afro-Indigenous people from Indigeneity. As we reflect upon the achievements and sacrifices Black individuals have made (and the ones they continue to make), it is important to recognize there is still a lot of work to be done. As we reflect this Black History Month, it is important to challenge our worldview and learn more about what can be done to support Black communities and achieve equity across the globe. We leave you with this quote from Ruby Bridges: "Don't follow the path. Go where there is no path and begin the trail. When you start a new trail equipped with courage, strength and conviction, the only thing that can stop you is you!" Education = Empowerment. Add yourself to the equation.
1 Comment
Veronica Medina
6/10/2021 06:25:57 am
The article is well written abs has good emphasis on the African American / Afro /Caribbean / Afro Central American brown n black peoples. The need to provide equal access to all us overwhelming.
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