Farai Chideya, an internationally known journalist and author, challenged students last night with a non-traditional view of Black History Month.
Chideya, keynote speaker for the Black History Month Tribute hosted by the African American Culture Center in the Bo Campbell Auditorium, told students to “redefine black history from a history of victimization to a history of accomplishment.”
The presence of blacks, Chideya said, created the democracy this country is now. While the founding fathers wrote the words, “all men are created equal,” it was the presence of slavery that caused them to stop and think about whether equality actually existed.
“People with good hearts can make bad moral and ethical decisions,” she said.
Chideya said the nation’s founders made a promise of equality and that this country will never live up to that promise until people make it happen.
“African-Americans are like sand in an oyster that helps create a pearl,” she said.
She told students that even the smallest action has ripples that affect equality everywhere.
“You don’t have to be a super woman or man to make changes,” she said. “It’s the simple things in life that make a big difference. Equality is the result of those small things we do.”
Among “small things,” Chideya included saying no to domestic violence, which she said perpetuates inequality. She also said students should strive to be good role models by exemplifying moral behavior.
Chideya said progress for equality has come a long way, but there is still room to grow. She said the process is like pushing a rock up a mountain — keep pushing the rock, or it could roll back and smash you.
“We will get closer to a world where equality is not just a word,” she said “We can live equality not as a theory, but as a practice.”
Earl Randall III, a representative for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and founder of Soul Tigers — a group that aims to network University alumni and students, encouraged students to be leaders and share their knowledge with others.
“We put a mark everywhere we step,” he said, urging students to leave their marks on campus.
Irene Nwokolo and Ellen Bator, both University students, performed a dialogue that addressed racism among students.
Monique Magee, a biological engineering junior, said the performance showed an important light on college racism.
It needs “to be known it’s OK to talk about those kinds of issues, especially on a college campus,” she said.
Gabriel Wilson, an electrical and computer engineering sophomore, said he learned what Black History Month is really about from the speakers and performers.
“Black History Month isn’t about African American history,” he said. “Its about furthering the education of African Americans.”