Adrianne Toles, In Motion Managing Editor
When it comes to Black history, the names of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, and Harriet Tubman are among the many broached upon in daily conversation.The journey from slaves, to free men, to becoming active participants in government speaks volumes of the growth and influence of the African American culture in our society. However, the story has not ended with their legacy.
In the years following the Civil War, a series of discriminatory policies based on deep-rooted prejudices, like Jim Crow laws and redlining, developed an unbalanced system, the results of which can be seen in the world around us.
The world saw an increase in disparate sentencing and cases of violent police encounters in black communities, polarizing media rhetoric, as well as a tremendous growth in the American wealth and inequality gap. As tensions grew, Black Lives Matters activists took to the streets nationwide for vastly peaceful protests demanding justice for these issues, spurred on by the untimely deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others.
Many great activists, from the abolitionists and Harriet Tubman to the Greensboro Four and numerous others have fundamentally progressed the livelihood of African Americans for years to come. “Black history is the story of resilience, not being able to quit and give up, and to build something from nothing,” said Ahmad Talton, Student Government’s Vice-President.
As we continue down the path previous activists have paved, organizations like Black Lives Matter and Daytona State’s African American Student Union ensure that that progress will not be slowed nor halted. Even more so, as we pass each other in the hallways, see one another via Microsoft Teams, and work as one Daytona State College geared towards equality and excellence; we ensure that that path continues to be paved for the generations who follow in our tracks.
For many in the African American community, we have had to learn to adapt to the circumstances created by the past. “In our community, she encouraged us to push pass the odds,” Student Government President Hilton Smith said, recalling his grandmother’s teachings. “And that’s how I was able to get past the adversity, the stereotyping, and the racism.” Though no one is born with hate in their hearts, those feelings can be taught, which are debilitating to African American youth, while they strive to find a sense of identity. “I hope that we take control of what we do now,” Talton added.
As the February of 2021 comes and goes, each day we honor the strife, sacrifices, dedication, and successes of the African American communities nationwide. We celebrate the ways in which our predecessors battled adversity and take pride in Daytona State’s rich diversity. In honor of Black History Month, the Student Government Association will be commemorating our school’s cultural history beginning February 15th through the 19th, offering virtual games and activities, like Black History jeopardy, and opening the floor for students who would like to share creative works, with other plans to be announced. The story of Black History is a difficult conversation to have, but we are in control of how the story continues.