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and a close friend of Jackson’s, asked her to deliver the address. Additionally, Fairfax and American University President Sylvia M. Burwell conferred on Jackson an honorary degree.

LESSONS FROM ‘SURVIVOR’

“Survivor” began its run in the United States on May 31, 2000. “Survivor” places a group of strangers in an isolated location, where they must provide food, fire, and shelter for themselves. The strangers, known as contestants, compete in challenging contests that assess their physical ability like running and swimming, or their mental faculties such as solving puzzles and surpassing hurdles for rewards and immunity from elimination. The contestants are progressively eliminated from the game as they are voted out by their colleagues until one remains and is given the title of “Sole Survivor” and wins the grand prize of $1 million. Jackson said the show is fun to watch, adding it teaches “a number of broader lessons that are helpful for becoming a good lawyer.”

The justice said lesson one “was to make the most of the resources you have.” She said as an assistant federal public defender in the District handling appeals, she often had less resources than prosecutors. Jackson talked about being prepared to move forward despite the odds and keeping her composure despite the unfair resources disparity. She spoke about a “Survivor” competitor who despite a prosthetic leg, surpassed her colleagues in a balance beam competition. Jackson said she possessed similar energy and passion when devising strategies to help her clients win on appeal despite the resource disadvantage.

“I kept my composure and put my head down,” she said. “My advice is to shut out distractions, use your time wisely and figure out how to make the most of what you have. That will increase the odds of success in law and in life, even if it seems that others have a significant head start.”

Jackson said knowing your strengths was lesson number two. She advised the graduates “not to be something you are not.”

“You do you,” she said. “Lean into your personal strengths. Use them to get you where you want to go.”

She referenced a “Survivor” contestant who lacked the physical stature and knowledge of the outdoors that her colleagues had, but possessed empathy and the ability to connect to people. Jackson noted the contestant often did well on multiple Survivor appearances despite her deficits. Finally, the justice urged the graduates to “play the long game.”

She said some “Survivor” contestants had the physical prowess to win, while others had the ability to strategize their way to victory. Nevertheless, Jackson said, all successful “Survivor” contestants had to learn to do one thing: work together.

“‘Survivor’ is not an individual game,” she said. “The contestants need each other for food, for shelter, for challenges, for support. They really must get along.”

Those contestants that understand community and conflict are keys to survival tend to do well, she said.

“They build alliances, stay optimistic, stay-level headed and disagree without being disagreeable,” Jackson said. “They try to resolve conflicts amicably. They never burn bridges with anyone.” WI

@JamesWrightJr10 newly freed from enslavement, and those who lost their lives fighting for freedom, said actor Wendell Pierce.

“We will never forget those brave and honorable souls,” Pierce stated.

Famous DJ Donnie Simpson called the occasion “very different for me.”

“While we honor those who gave their lives in service for this country, I can’t help but think of those African Americans who were massacred in Tulsa 100 years ago,” Simpson wrote on Twitter.

Author Christina Coles deadpanned, “The Civil War was over, and African Americans had founded Memorial Day in a ritual of remembrance and consecration. They were the true patriots.”

Ben Gold, a historian and founder of the real estate investment firm Recommended Homebuyers, said recognizing Black soldiers,’ and their families’ sacrifices and bravery is essential because it acknowledges their often-overlooked role in shaping the nation’s history.

“Commemorating Memorial Day with Black heroes in mind serves several critical purposes.

First and foremost, it ensures that their stories are included and preserved within the broader narrative of the holiday,” Gold insisted.

He said that by highlighting Black service members’ courage, resilience, and contributions, America pays homage to their sacrifices and honors their memory.

Moreover, Gold asserted that it fosters a sense of inclusivity, promotes diversity, and enriches our collective understanding of the complex tapestry of American history.

“In my experience as an investor and developer, I have witnessed firsthand the power of recognizing and celebrating diversity,” Gold said.

“Just as the real estate industry thrives when it embraces inclusivity, so does our society when we acknowledge and appreciate the diverse perspectives and experiences of all those who have served our country. “

Gold emphasized the importance of uplifting the Black history associated with Memorial Day.

“By featuring the stories of

Black heroes in Memorial Day commemorations, we not only educate and inspire, but we also contribute to a more inclusive and united nation.”

Although the origins of Memorial Day trace back to the period following the Civil War, when some 620,000 soldiers lost their lives, the precise origins remain a source of controversy.

Several cities have staked claims to be the first to celebrate Memorial Day.

Still, a different narrative says that African Americans in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1865 were the true founders of the holiday.

Renowned historian David Blight, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and American history professor at Yale University recounted a poignant commemoration in Charleston on May 1, 1865.

Organized by formerly enslaved people and white missionaries, Blight determined that the event occurred at a former racecourse that had served as a Confederate prison for Union soldiers during the war’s final year.

At least 257 prisoners had perished there, primarily due to disease, and were buried in unmarked graves.

Eventually, two dozen African American residents of Charleston meticulously rearranged the graves into orderly rows.

They erected a three-meter-tall white fence around them, creating what they called the ‘Martyrs of the Racecourse’ memorial.

“After the Confederate evacuation of Charleston Black workmen went to the site, reburied the Union dead properly, and built a high fence around the cemetery,” Blight documented. “They whitewashed the fence and built an archway over an entrance on which they inscribed the words, ‘Martyrs of the Racecourse.’”

He continued: “The symbolic power of this Low Country planter aristocracy’s bastion was not lost on the freed people, who then, in cooperation with white missionaries and teachers, staged a parade of 10,000 on the track.”

The gravesites were transformed into a breathtaking “sea of flowers,” as described by the New York Tribune, and the event was hailed as a procession of mourning and remembrance, unlike anything South Carolina or the United States had witnessed before.

Despite documented evidence about this event, the narrative of African Americans being the founders of Memorial Day essentially went untold.

“That’s the surprising part,” said Ambassador Young, a civil rights icon who also served as mayor of Atlanta from 1981 to 1990.

“It’s history I want to read and know more about, and everyone else should as well.” WI