Groups of MATC Times students went around the Downtown Campus to find out people’s thoughts on Black History Month.
Question: What do you think of Black History Month?
Respondent: Erik Riley – Pathway Advisor and Black Student Union Board Member was reached via a BSU group chat:
“Black History Month to me is a reminder of our Black angels watching over us. All the history of those who fought for our freedom, fought for our equality and justice… They put their lives on the line to allow us to live in harmony and peace. And, even though we still face challenges today, we are so many steps ahead from where we were in the past. We need to remember that the torch has been passed to us. Martin Luther King Jr. was in his 20s when he did most of his impactful missions. A young man with a vision and goal. WE ALL HAVE THAT ABILITY! The ability to lead. The ability to stand up in peace. Black History Month reminds me of the power I possess as a Black man!”
Respondent: Tatiana – Major: Associate of Arts
“Black History Month is a month of truth seeking, telling the whole story and not one side. Yeah, it’s about suffering, exploitation but it’s about love, unity and true power.”
Respondent: Deshawn – Major: Audio Production
“Hopefully change, (a) realization of what’s going on in the world. I feel like they are trying to erase history, especially in the southern states right now, so it’s very important to me.”
Respondent: Suzie Considine – Sr. Specialist, Dual Enrollment
“It’s a good time to reflect on the history of America, how we tell that story and the stories we haven’t always told about who we are and what we believe in as a country.”
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Question: When it comes to Black History Month, how would you define it?
Question asked by Darnell Bonner, Times Contributor
The answers were written and audio recorded by Phersathiny Acosta, Times Photographer
Respondent: Stephanie Laird, Center for Urban Teaching
“I’m going to say something a little controversial. I’m not the biggest fan of Black History Month because I don’t believe that Black history is confined to a month. I believe that every day is history of the people that have lived in this country (and) are living in this country. So, when it specifically comes to African Americans in the city of Milwaukee, I love Vel R. Phillips. She did amazing things in our city…She changed a lot of the laws…and a lot of people don’t know who she is….There’s a street named after her.”
Fact about Vel Phillips: She was the first woman and first African American to be elected to the statewide office of Secretary of State of Wisconsin.
Respondent Kris Neuman, Center for Urban Teaching
“I think it’s very important to have a time when you reflect on the importance of different cultures and the contributions they’ve made specifically. Understand why there’s a Black History Month, that it’s a time when we’re going to talk about this and all the things they did that nobody noticed before. I think that’s valuable. But, I agree with Stephanie that it should be an all history month (every day is history) always, because we never stop learning about the history of our people. As soon as we stop learning about history, we’re doomed to repeat it…Do we want all the conflicts and the problems and the divisions of the 40s, 50s and 60s, or do we want to build on where we are here in the 2000s? We want to go back to education where our community worked together. Did you know that the very first public school in the United States happened here, and it was founded by an African American woman who was married to a Native American man? Did you know that? What if we went back to that history where we built up from that foundation, instead of when there was conflict between the two settlers of Milwaukee that created strife and division so bad that our streets are still crooked because of it.”
