We had to learn how to craft the language in a way that gave teachers creative freedom but also didn’t give schools loopholes or workarounds.

Over the course of several months, we participated in and led calls with education experts and experienced legislative writers. Sherry Dorsey Walker to push for a statewide Black history requirement, the true fight began. Then, when a fellow student, Tyler Busch, and I connected with State Rep. Together, we began pushing back on the systems that had oppressed us our entire lives. Once we found our community, we found our power. My school initially told me starting a club for Black students would be too divisive, so I started a group not for students at my school but for all Delaware students. But as the voices of thousands of Black activists rose in defiance around me, I decided it was time to join them.įounding the Delaware Black Student Coalition was my first step. As one of only a few Black girls in my Middletown high school, I had quietly accepted the microaggressions and cultural erasing because I believed my voice was too small to make a difference. If you asked me at the beginning of 2020 what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have answered “a trauma surgeon.” But after the murder of George Floyd, I could no longer pretend Black bodies and Black voices were valued the same as White bodies and voices. I didn’t always fancy myself an activist. They offer us inspiration and familiarity as we honor and celebrate Black History Month.This confluence of cowardice is a disgrace, and it’s up to young people like me to stop it. The categories below highlight Black love, anti-racism, and American history. These quotes from Black leaders help us use history to inform our experiences today. In and out of the classroom, students connect historical teachings to the modern world. Others like Angela Davis and Henry Louis Gates may offer new perspectives.įamous Black history quotes remind us that our past can shape our future, and inspirational Black history quotes urge us to move forward with purpose. and Maya Angelou are well-known Black leaders familiar to most students. Notable, influential, and inspiring Black Americans speak powerful words to our communities - and have for centuries. Their words help us remember where we come from and how we move forward. The Public Ivies, Little Ivies, and Other Ivy League Equivalentsĭuring Black History Month, we acknowledge those who offer us knowledge and remind us to see beyond ourselves.

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Staying power the history of black