Reflecting on Black History Month

As Black History Month comes to a close, East Tennessee State University encourages everyone to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of our faculty, staff and students who have been instrumental in enriching and honoring the diverse tapestry of Black culture and history.

Watch as Dr. Daryl Carter, Rebecca Olwata, Brooklynn Horton and Deron Dean take a moment to reflect on the month and what it means to them.

Video Transcript

Dr. Daryl Carter:

ETSU celebrates Black History Month this February to recognize, honor and consider the ways in which Black Americans have contributed to the life of this country. Black history is American history. It should be appreciated and studied throughout the year. But the month of February, selected by luminaries such as Carter G. Woodson nearly a century ago, is a special time, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience, creativity and enduring spirit of a people who have helped to shape the American experience.  

I think of the men, women and children, who valiantly fought for all peoples to be treated equitably and fairly. During the Civil Rights Movement, people of all backgrounds fought to end a horrible system which used brute force and the power of the state to subjugate an entire people. The outcome of their fight against injustice and hatred was uncertain. Southern segregationists and their allies controlled the government—local, state, and federal—and most Americans in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, were skeptical of integration and civil rights. These Americans often put their own safety at risk to end American-style apartheid.

Today, we are confronted with staggering challenges regarding a host of issues, such as race, ethnicity, sex, gender, economic inequality and opportunity. It is incumbent upon all of us to seize the moment. Men, women and children, of good will must draw upon the past to inform the present, to engage one another with dignity and respect. Black History Month reminds us the work of a citizen is never truly over. In June of 1963 President Kennedy became the first American president to declare civil rights a moral issue. President Kennedy said in his landmark 1963 speech:

We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution. The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities, whether we are going to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be treated.

Here at ETSU we believe examining this history, embracing the messiness of being a human being in the United States and celebrating differing values and perspectives makes all of us better, more informed citizens. In so doing, we are equipping our students to think critically and take control of their own lives. Our rights to a first-class citizenship must not be simply freedom of assembly or freedom of speech or freedom to bear arms. Freedom must be balanced with civility, responsibility and accountability. For we are our brother’s keeper. Everyday the sun rises and the tremendous faculty, staff and students begin the day anew. Each day we have an opportunity to take a step toward a fuller, richer and better future. Let us remember that we are one Buccaneer family, and each day is an opportunity to embrace our common humanity.

Thank you, and Go Bucs. 

Rebecca Olwata:

My name is Rebecca Olwata, I'm a nursing major, and I'm a junior here at ETSU. Black History Month, to me, is a time where we devote a month to celebrate Black excellence, commemorate everyone in all fields, STEM, arts, cooking, everything.

Dr. Daryl Carter:

To me, this month means reflection, it means we need to assess where we are as a country and as a society, that we need to take a variet of approachs to ensure that people regardless of sex or gender or sexuality or race, are building off of the tremendous work that so many people did to end Jim Crow in this country. And I think we have an obligation here to continue to make the country a better place. 

Brooklynn Horton:

I'm Brooklynn Horton, I'm a sophomore here at ETSU, and I'm a media and communications major. Black History Month means to me, it's a very important month for me. It's a month where I get to, you know, celebrate my blackness and my accomplishments, not only as an individual, but also as a community. 

Deron Dean:

I'm Deron Dean, I'm a senior and a finance major with a minor in entrepreneurship. Black History Month means to me a celebration of African-American culture, and also acknowledging the people that are also still fighting for the Black community and everything like that.

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East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.