The Center for Inclusion and Diversity presents The Inaugural, Roy L. Brooks, Distinguished Lecture Series. The program included Vice Provost Regina Dixon-Reeves, PhD and Senior Vice President and Provost, Gail F. Baker, PhD who gave a welcoming tribute to Professor Brooks. Then the keynote speaker, Regina Dixon-Reeve, PhD introduced the keynote speaker Derrick R. Brooms, PhD. Dr. Brooms serves as a Professor of Africana Studies and Sociology and Fellow in the Center for the Study of Social Justice at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His work is committed to research, teaching, and service through collaborative methods on education equity, inclusion, and racial justice. Dr. Brooms presented his research that investigates Black men’s college experiences, with a particular focus on their experiences at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). His presentation examines how being Black and male matters in Black men’s college experiences and account for their educational desires and sense of self, while focusing on their agency, resistance, and the need to transform educational praxis and institutional cultures. The narratives and themes of the program are significant to our understanding of African American History because it provides context and experiences through another perspective to allow for deeper understanding that leads to positive solutions.
The Black Panther Party launched more than 35 Survival Programs and provided community help, such as education, tuberculosis testing, legal aid, and transportation assistance. In addition to fighting for political and economic equality, they provided access to medical clinics and free breakfast for children. The Black Panther Party is Revolution Black Nationalism, “during the period of Contemporary Black Nationalism, four major groupings of black nationalism seemed to have emerged. They include educational nationalism, religious nationalism, cultural nationalism, and revolutionary nationalism” (Harris 410). Harris later on explains what each group of nationalists do for their concentration, but what stood out to me was the importance of religion in black life in the United States, not only does this represent black nationalism, but religious nationalism as well giving special significance. The Black Panthers Ten-Point Program focused on armed Black self-defense against police brutality and community social programs to provide medical care, food, and education for all Black people, each point being direct and clear. In order to truly understand African American History, we begin to learn from the beginning all the way to current times. The Black Panther Party stood out to me because of its significance and the change it brought to helping the Black Community. Understanding Black history allows for those to learn and strive for a better world, the Black Panther Party became the leading revolutionary nationalist organization. One question that came to mind when focusing on the Black Panther Party was why this specific animal, “The Black Panther Party chose the name because the panther is known to be an animal that never makes an unprovoked attack, but will defend itself vehemently when attacked, and this was symbolic of what the Black Panther party for Self-Defense stood for” (Harris 412). The symbolism behind their movement is what brings empowerment to those around, even learning about this from the present. Understanding African American History is not only important for those who come from African American descent, but those of different cultural backgrounds that teaches cultural appreciation and respect for these differences. My point stands for people from the past to people of the future, The Black Panther Party was created to advocate against brutality towards civil rights protestors, organizing a revolutionary party.
Barack Hussein Obama II, the 44th president of the United States, along with being the first African-American president of the United States. His nomination for presidency in 2008 symbolized change on many levels, “for the first time in history, a black man would run on a major party ticket for the highest office in the land on a platform that made ‘change’ its signature slogan. Obama was a self-identified African American who had no black ancestor born on American soil and who in previous centuries might have been advantaged by his biracial heritage but would have never been perceived as transcending race” (White et al. 1042). Obama was not the first black presidential candidate to be taken seriously, Congressperson Shirley Chisholm launched her campaign for the Democratic Party nomination for president in 1972. After Chisholm, many black Americans ran for president on different tickets including Jesse Jackson who made serious runs in the late 1980s. When Barack Obama because the first black president of the United States, he not only influenced and empowered those to follow their dreams, but empowered children everywhere due to representation. Representation is power, important for young children who are learning about African American History to know what the future holds, building self-esteem and positive self-image. Obama took the opportunity to speak publicly about race during his campaigning, “in his speech at the National Constitution Center in March 2008, Obama put the issue front and center. He explained how the history of slavery contradicted the principles outlined in the Us Constitution and noted that slavery’s end, and the end of Jim Crow, was made possible by the Constitution, which promised liberty and justice for all. He lauded Americas question for a ‘more perfect union’ and pledged to continue to bring the nation’s promise closer to reality. But he challenged all races to focus on mutual understanding and a path to unity” (White et al. 1044). Obama proves my point, how important it is for everyone to learn about the history of this nation, because not only does it shape who we are, but how we as people got to where we are. As I mentioned previously, representation is important for everyone, specifically children of color who are growing up. All children should learn about African American History, two biggest reasons being, avoid repeating history and empowering these children. It is crucial for children to learn about equity and social justice, including the harmful effects of racism because silence and ignorance leads to racisms repeating and becoming normalized within a family or community. Teaching children early on helps them to understand, respect, and appreciate the differences between people while empowering them to be their own person with aspirations and dreams.
Dr. Derrick Brooms grew up in South Side Chicago, where his neighborhood was racially segregated. Growing up he struggled to understand his own life leading him to study Africana studies in school. During the program, he shares mostly his own experiences of being a black man in a Hispanic Serving Institution alongside the experiences of other young black men. He began with the basics of black boys being criminalized or stereotyped at a young age, an example being sports being a primary identity to a young black male, either track or football. He explains how much he despised being known only for his sport, not his own person. Going back to his studies, his goal is to learn from all these different perspectives, he shares, “you don’t research on people, you do research with people” (Brooms’). This is a quote that I hold closely to my heart because in order to truly understand where someone is coming from, you need to be able to understand and learn alongside them. Black education is always being compared to white students, it should not be because black education is unique and the white standard skews black education. During his time at school, he could not pay for one of his credits for class which resulted in him being dropped from the class and kicked out of the library. He expresses how he felt that no one truly believed in him, even his own professors. The only people who would ever check up on Brooms were non-academics workers. Mike, a custodian, who Brooms became close with during his time at school, built a close bond with each other that inspired Brooms to never stop. He mentions one last person who believed in him, shaping who he is as a person, “Andre Phillips was the only black administration office worker at the University of Wisconsin, this office was my safe place. I would eat in here, do my homework, study, and just talk with him” (Brooms’). Brooms explains how if he never met these people, he did not think he would finish school, the most simple interactions could change the life of someone. After a few years, in his masters programs he has this one professor who would question Brooms character. His professor once asked if he ‘actually’ wrote his paper because it was simply ‘too good’. Then during his PhD program, his paper that had received an A was later scratched out to be replaced with the letter B. The most memorable interaction with that same professor, was when there was on other black male in Brooms’ class. The professor mixed up there names and justified this action due to not being able to tell them apart, suggesting that they should not sit next to each other. Brooms’ says that to this day, that was the most disrespectful professor he had ever met. He made it his goal to advocate for young black men all over the world who are experiencing this, he mentions, “I am not just doing this for me, but setting examples and breaking stereotypes” (Brooms’). A different perspective is crucial for learning African American History, due to people believing only what is in front of them. Brooms’ is advocating for institutions to change the way they treat young black men and if sharing his story and experiences is what it takes, as well as writing multiple books, he will not stop. All these experiences that he shared are to prove that even in modern times, people will continue to be ignorant.
The Black Panther Program and Obama becoming the first African-American president are milestones and accomplishments made by the Black community, slowly overcoming institutionalized racism. Dr. Brooms sharing his own experiences to advocate for millions of young black men who deal with normalized microaggressions on the daily. Learning African American History from different perspectives or events no matter what time period is essential for empowering and connecting different and unique people to create change. These are all steps closer to creating change for the better, since then, equality has improved, but there is always space for improvement in our current society. The program that I attended taught me that there are still professors and institutions who allow the mistreatment of others, but Brooms’ proves that he overcame these struggles ending up on top, a successful author with four daughters. Hopefully inspiring young people to continue to fight for what is right, never giving up on their dreams.