Celebrating Black

CELEBRATING BLACK EXCELLENCE

By: Clarissa Del Rio Staff Writer and Layout Designer

America has had a long history of silencing, belittling and blatantly erasing the contributions and advancements of Black individuals in this country. Our nation intentionally stripped the identities, cultures, languages and histories of each person that was kidnapped and stolen from their land to build a country that gives nothing in return. The America we know and celebrate today would not be where it is without the innovation, persistence and exertion of Black people.

The topic of race often makes people uncomfortable in America. We often like to lie to ourselves and say that racism and civil rights are things of the past, that “that time” was a dark and far away place that is no longer relevant to the present. This lie functions as a way to alleviate the guilt, shame and accountability we must confront. This marginalization and violence persists to this day and led to the rise of the biggest international civil rights movement of 2020. Now more than ever, it is crucial to support, include and celebrate our communities of color and their achievements. Despite every obstacle Black individuals face, they continue to innovate, make meaningful contributions and be inspirations.

Looking from 2020 and beyond, there have been substantial achievements for the Black community in every area one can think of. In music, The Weeknd’s “record-shattering single” Blinding Lights led to “breaking records for the most weeks spent in the top five and the top ten among all titles in the Billboard chart's 62-year history,” according to Billboard. We also saw progress in the political landscape as Kamala Harris became the first woman of color to hold the position of Vice President. Black excellence was also seen in science, with the development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine being led by the African-American female scientist, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett. It is difficult to imagine how life would be without the contributions of people of color in America.

USF senior Mikeya Stephen shared, “Black excellence to me means anyone within the African American community achieving something or creating an initiative to push our people forward. Black excellence isn’t a word to describe just one person but it’s used to describe a movement to me. It’s about breaking generational curses, feeding habits, and knowledge into the community that we once didn’t have access to.” Stephen also speaks on how Black excellence needs support here at USF. “As far as supporting and celebrating Black accomplishments at a predominately white institution, it’s important to not fall silent when major breakthroughs are made for the Black community even when the majority of students who may not be of color can’t relate. Showing genuine support for its Black student’s accomplishments should be normal. It is important to genuinely learn about ways to halt microaggressions within predominantly white institutions and to uplift the Black student the same way you would any other. It is not an aspiration to be treated differently but to be treated equally.”

Assistant Director of Residence Education Cedricka Carver shared her thoughts on what Black excellence means to her by stating, “... Black Excellence is such a complex and layered concept. It is being able to see, recognize and nurture the fullness of Black and brown people. It is the fundamental belief that in all our greatness, we must allow our creativity, confidence, skill, talent, and authentic selves to shine in any space and on any platform. Black excellence is admiring that so many things were invented, created and brought to life by Black people. Black Excellence is the Obamas taking seats at the White House and gracefully exiting at the end of their term. Black excellence is Colin Kaepernick taking a knee against police brutality. Black Excellence is Imelme Umana making history by becoming the first Black president of Harvard Law School. Black Excellence is black women being named as the most educated women in the United States. Black Excellence is acknowledging all the firsts- the ones who are still striving and the ones who are thriving amidst all the adversity.”

Carver also expressed how Black excellence carries with it a hefty responsibility. “Although Black excellence is all these things and

“What some people do not realize is that Black excellence is deciding to continue to be and do our best in our everyday lives. It is deciding to go back into that workplace although we have been mistreated. It is deciding to continue to live and thrive despite the world wanting you to die... therefore, each day that a Black person decides to show themselves regardless of what obstacles come their way is a form of Black excellence. It is often seen but may be habitually overlooked. ”

more, it can also show its face as a heavyweight carried by many in the Black community. The weight to do more, be more and show more; the weight to always be conscious of actions, appearances and reputation; the weight to be the one to make our community, family and parents proud. At its core it is the love for the self even when the world tells us we are unlovable.”

Carver also acknowledges that Black excellence is found in daily life, not just in spectacular displays of genius and innovation. She states, “What some people do not realize is that Black excellence is deciding to continue to be and do our best in our everyday lives. It is deciding to go back into that workplace although we have been mistreated. It is deciding to continue to live and thrive despite the world wanting you to die...therefore, each day that a Black person decides to show themselves regardless of what obstacles come their way is a form of Black excellence. It is often seen but may be habitually overlooked. ”

As we strive to represent the beauty, contribution and power of the Black community, it is important to note that the notion of should not be used to apply pressure to Black individuals as a measure of their worthiness. In a society that has a history of silencing the Black community, the act of surviving against every obstacle deeply embedded in our system for over 400 years is, in itself, astounding. Against the odds that Black and Brown citizens are faced with, there is resilience and perseverance. To reiterate the wisdom of Miss Carver, “Being one’s true authentic self in a system that has actively made every effort to erase the identity and strip away the power of one’s entire race of people is indeed an act of rebellion and excellence in itself.”

L i k e M e A G i r l

s c e n t i o n M e a n s t o W o m e n o f C o l o r W h a t K a m a l a H a r r i s ' A

“It is my honor to be here, to stand on the shoulders of those who came before, to speak tonight as your Vice President.” - Kamala Harris, 49th Vice President of the United States

From the comfort of my living room, my eyes were glued to the nightly coverage of Inauguration Day. Earlier that day, Kamala Harris took the vice-presidential oath of office. She was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court; two historic women in a moment that people could have only dreamed about decades ago.

“We not only dream, we do. We not only see what has been, we see what can be. We shoot for the moon and then we plant our flag on it. We are bold, fearless, and ambitious. We are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up,” Harris remarked in her first speech as Vice President.

The ascension of Kamala Harris to the Vice President role is significant in so many ways. Harris is the first female Vice President of the United States, making her the highest ranking female official in the United States government. She is also the first person of color (POC) to occupy this position. Harris, the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, now assumes a leadership role that was only occupied by white men.

To most people, her rise to power is historic because nobody of her background and heritage has successfully climbed this high before. It is more personal for young women of color like myself. It is so rare to see elected officials who look like us or come from backgrounds similar to us.

I was born in the Philippines but have lived in the United States for most of my life. I am an American but I grew up as an immigrant for most of my adolescence. In the past, there were times where I felt like an outsider in my own country and I know first-hand the barriers women of color face. Women of color face sexism and misogyny, not only in mainstream culture but also within our own ethnic communities. We are taught that our bodies are not for ourselves and that societal norms like marriage and motherhood are a necessity for our identity. Women of color also face racism. This can be in the form of hate-speech, microaggressions or predatory legislation. We are told from a young age that we will have to overcome more barriers than other people simply because of who we are.

I say this to show how astounding it is that Kamala Harris got to where she is today. She had to overcome barriers placed by a society that has historically silenced the roles and contributions of women, Black people, Indigenous people and people of other minority communities. Despite those barriers, she became one of the most powerful women in the world.

Many women of color can relate to Vice President Harris and for them, she is a symbol of hope. USF alum Maria Macias-Bedolla shares what Harris’ role as Vice President means to her. “For me, Vice President Kamala [Harris] is serving as a role model to so many women, especially women who are BIPOC. Many women can identify with her and her struggles, as well as her family dynamics. I also think that her

“It is my honor to be here, to stand on the shoulders of -Kamala those who came before, Harris, 49th to speak tonight Vice President of as your Vice the

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intersectional identity as a Black, biracial woman from an immigrant family allows her empathy around issues that are important to me and so many others. Her achievements show the world that women are more than capable of stepping into these important leadership roles and that resonates with me.”

The advancement of a woman of color to an important role in government also gives people hope that legislation will have the interests of minorities in mind. The events in 2020 centered around racial injustice and police brutality, so more people are looking to their elected officials to support reforms that help marginalized communities. With this in mind, supporting the ascension of Vice President Harris does not necessarily guarantee more reforms for people of color. During her tenure as California’s Attorney General, Harris described herself as “tough-on-crime” and opposed several bills that the Black caucus pushed for, including one that would have required police officers to wear body cameras, according to NPR. And according to the New York Times, Harris had largely avoided intervening in cases related to excessive force by the police, which was seen as a failure on her end to address the national issue of police shootings in the 2010s. During her first day on the presidential campaign trail in 2019, Harris explained that she acknowledged her mistakes by stating,“The bottom line is the buck stops with me, and I take full responsibility for what my office did.”

Although I disagree with her actions during her time as California’s Attorney General, it does not take away from the significance of her ascension. Young women, especially those who are Black or South Asian, now know that becoming a Vice President is something that is achievable for them.

In her victory speech as the Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris shared her hopes for more women in her office. “I’m thinking about [my mother] and about the generations of women – Black women, Asian, white, Latina, and Native American women throughout our nation’s history who have paved the way for this moment tonight. Women who fought and sacrificed so much for equality, liberty, and justice for all, including the Black women, who are too often overlooked, but so often prove that they are the backbone of our democracy...But while I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”