Celebrating black history month

Each 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.