Written by: Cullen C. Merritt, Ph.D., O’Neill Associate Professor and Director of the O’Neill Honors Program
Black history is a part of American history. It’s a part of world history. It’s a point of pride, a point of excitement, and a point of reflection for all of us.
When I think of Black History Month, I think about honoring those who came before me who have beaten the odds and overcome obstacles to positively change society.
Growing up, Black History Month often focused more on Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks or George Washington Carver. We would discuss the incredible barriers they overcame, the vast number of people they affected, and the wide-reaching influence they had.
And while what they did is—without question—amazing and impactful, it is difficult to replicate.
As an adult, I have developed a great appreciation for the many people who were just as integral to social and racial justice progress but who may not have made the front page of the paper.
It is critical that we celebrate those people and their experiences during this month and beyond as well.
Doing so allows us to see ourselves in those who have come before us. It can help us accept who we are as ordinary people and embrace the unique impact each of us can make.
It used to be that I wanted to change the world. I now have a greater appreciation for the fact that I’m not going to change the entire world by myself—but I can change the spaces in which I live and work.
For me, that means trying to be authentic and kind, to leave places and people better than I found them, and to bring a positive energy to my classroom. It means taking the time to support students and help them recognize how their unique talents can make the world better.
I may not be in a position to bring about macro change by myself. But if I’m intentional about positively impacting one student a day or one student a week, imagine how many more people could be affected over time through my students.
I don’t believe those who’ve moved social justice forward were as concerned with their names being remembered as much as they were focused on creating change.
Likewise, if students forget me but carry forward positive energy because of me, that is what truly matters. My focus is not my name, but the legacy I’ve left based on my actions and my energy.
Each one of us is already part of someone else’s legacy. I am a part of the legacy of those in the Black community who have pushed for change in both big and understated ways. I am part of my family’s legacy, as I’ve listened to my parents’ and grandparents’ personal stories of overcoming adversity through generations. I am also part of the lasting legacy of the many educators who have been part of my academic journey.
In turn, I hope I too am able to leave a legacy of change.
As a faculty member at O’Neill, my hope for my own students is that they will be courageous but will also understand their courage may not come in the form of a “storm”. It may come in the form of a very subtle “sprinkle”.
I hope they understand that opposition often means they’re making progress.
I hope they won’t stop pushing for social justice simply because they don’t see the result of their work immediately. Oftentimes, the quicker you build something, the quicker it falls. In fact, we may never see some of the most significant things we begin building come to fruition in our lifetimes.
I hope my students remember that, sometimes, it’s not about the credit—it’s about the impact.
It’s the positive societal impact of so many Black Americans—both known and unknown—that gives me hope and pushes me to maximize the space I’m in to positively influence those I encounter. We have a responsibility to honor those who made sacrifices in the name of progress yet did not want nor were given credit.
There are many people whose names we will never know who contributed to social and racial justice in ways that affect us all today. We can honor them by following their lead, even when that means leaving seemingly quiet yet meaningful legacies of change. Their example reminds us that even though we may never make front page news, there is no impact too small to make a difference in this world.
