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Black History Month Assemblies Welcome Dr. Christopher Emdin, Keith Boykin
As part of D-E's Black History Month observances, two speakers were invited onto campus to address the Middle and Upper Schools at their respective assemblies.
[Portions of this article contributed by Clinton Carbon, Director of Multicultural Affairs]
As part of D-E's Black History Month observances, two speakers were invited onto campus to address the Middle and Upper Schools at their respective assemblies.
At the Middle School assembly on February 20, we welcomed Dr. Christopher Emdin, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University. We had previously hosted Dr. Emdin last September, when he spoke to the eighth grade on media literacy -- a topic he knows a thing or two about as co-creator of the #HipHopEd social media movement, and as a much sought-after public speaker on a number of topics that include hip-hop education, STEM education, politics, race, class, diversity and youth empowerment.As part of D-E's Black History Month observances, two speakers were invited onto campus to address the Middle and Upper Schools at their respective assemblies.
As a social critic and public intellectual whose commentary on issues of race, culture, inequality and education have appeared in various influential periodicals, Dr. Emdin certainly has the background to address the importance of Black History to each of us and how contemporary issues help create a living history that affects us all. Highlights from his talk include the following quotes:
Dr. Emdin's speech also raised the following questions, which were introduced to the HomeBases for further discussion:
-What are the roles of allies in celebrating Black History Month?
-What was the significance of presenting the statues of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela?
-How do we celebrate Black History after the month of February?
On February 27, Keith Boykin -- CNBC contributor, MSNBC commentator, BET columnist and New York Times best-selling author -- spoke to the Upper School during a thought-provoking assembly organized by Olivia Britton '14 and Amani Wynter '15. Boykin, who was named a top instructor when he taught political science at American University in Washington, focused on contemporary African-American history, who the history makers are, and how each of us, no matter our heritage or background, contributes to African-American history beyond the 28 days of February.
"History is not just something you read about, but upon which you can make an impact," said Boykin, who has been actively involved in progressive causes since working on his first congressional campaign as a high school student. He spoke on how perseverance is so important, you must keep working on what you believe in doing, even when you fail. For example, before he became "successful" in terms of working on the Bill Clinton presidential campaign in Arkansas, he worked on four or five "failed" elections. Then he served in the White House as a special assistant to President Clinton, where he was once the highest-ranking openly gay person in the Clinton White House. He also helped organize and participated in the nation’s first-ever meeting between a sitting president and leaders of the LGBT community.
Aside from quoting Dr. King, whom he says he is personally inspired by, since his own birthday is August 28 -- the anniversary Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech -- Boykin also provided some insight on being a fellow classmate of Barack Obama's at Harvard Law School. While Obama was always the way he has been -- focused, driven, with that particular cadence to his speaking style -- Boykin never would have predicted that Obama would become President, which then brought Boykin back to his "perseverance" theme.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the assembly was Boykin's response to being asked how his parents supported him when he eventually came out to them as a gay man. His parents always tell him that they love him and that although it has been difficult at times for them to always understand this "life decision/reality," he still feels supported by them.
"History is not just something you read about, but upon which you can make an impact," said Boykin, who has been actively involved in progressive causes since working on his first congressional campaign as a high school student. He spoke on how perseverance is so important, you must keep working on what you believe in doing, even when you fail. For example, before he became "successful" in terms of working on the Bill Clinton presidential campaign in Arkansas, he worked on four or five "failed" elections. Then he served in the White House as a special assistant to President Clinton, where he was once the highest-ranking openly gay person in the Clinton White House. He also helped organize and participated in the nation’s first-ever meeting between a sitting president and leaders of the LGBT community.
Aside from quoting Dr. King, whom he says he is personally inspired by, since his own birthday is August 28 -- the anniversary Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech -- Boykin also provided some insight on being a fellow classmate of Barack Obama's at Harvard Law School. While Obama was always the way he has been -- focused, driven, with that particular cadence to his speaking style -- Boykin never would have predicted that Obama would become President, which then brought Boykin back to his "perseverance" theme.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the assembly was Boykin's response to being asked how his parents supported him when he eventually came out to them as a gay man. His parents always tell him that they love him and that although it has been difficult at times for them to always understand this "life decision/reality," he still feels supported by them.
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