February 3, 2023
Taking the Opportunity
Happy Black History Month! This is a time of great promise for us as a collective to elevate and celebrate the African-American heritage. Black History Month was declared in 1970 by President Gerald Ford, an extension of what began as Black History Week in 1926 by Carter Woodson. As we engage in learning together and from one another, let’s look to the practice of information-gathering:
Who? We are talking about Black individuals that you may or may not have heard of before, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, or John Lewis. We are called to recognize the individuals that played an integral role in making the collective America as we know it today—individuals who worked to achieve an American dream.
Why? Langston Hughes’s poem articulates it well “I, too, sing America”. To forget the struggle that African-Americans had to endure and continue to experience today is to diminish their existence and value to humanity.
How? So, how does one acknowledge the importance of Black History Month? As Gerald Ford suggests—“Seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” We must not tire in thinking of ways to honor the voices and narratives of African-Americans. But, instead let us look forward to the opportunity that presents itself daily.
When? Let us take the time today to use our capacity to see individuals as their authentic selves and value their contributions. As the musical Ragtime asks us to ponder—aren’t we all looking to ride on the "wheels of a dream"? February serves as a reminder of a new-found hope in the opportunity we have in this moment to acknowledge African-Americans in this space.
Happy Black History Month!
January 16, 2023
The Embrace
It’s chilly and damp outside on this January 13th day, but I am not fazed. I am warmed by the anticipation that emanates from those that came to witness the unveiling of “The Embrace”, a monument that celebrates the late civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. The sculpture by Hank Willis Thomas displays two arms crossed one over the other, a universal symbol of love that is shared between individuals not bound by blood but by the mutual respect for one’s humanity. My emotions fly high on the wave of hope that captures the moment. Freedom reigns indeed when arms are allowed to join, woven in an embrace—a humble and healing expression of inclusion and reconciliation. It was Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream—“I have a dream that…one day right there in Alabama, little Black boys and Black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.”
Martin Luther King, Jr., was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia to Michael King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. He was a social activist who led the civil rights movement responsible for ending legal segregation of African Americans in the United States. King showed us a way forward. His teachings of nonviolent approaches, such as those that coalesced the massive March on Washington in 1963, continue to point the way for us today. Togetherness is a requirement. What will our legacy be? I ask myself as I think of the principles and tenets Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lived by, fought for, and died trying to instill in the hearts and minds of humanity. His life made a difference. And, I ask, can we embrace the opportunity to do the same?
We still have work to do. The lived experiences of marginalized people of today are signs that Martin Luther King Jr.’s lessons on love, peace, and justice are still relevant and needed. With a history plagued by slavery, racism, privilege, and an insatiable hunger for dominance, the impetus for change is ever present. What will your legacy be in this life’s journey? What choice will you make around upholding the demand for a just humanity?
From where I stand, I see The Embrace as an invitation. An invitation to embrace: the opportunity we have before us to effect change; the principles, tenets, and vision for a better tomorrow, if not today; and the idea that change is possible. The laws of motion dictate that an object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion unless acted on by a force. Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership was a tour de force towards achieving social justice for all. Let us embrace the capacity we all have as members of the human race to possess a dream and continue to work towards a truly just nation.
August 4, 2022
Dear HSDM community,
I am excited to join you as the Assistant Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB). I look forward to working with you and welcome the opportunity to engage in productive dialogue. Thank you for affording me the privilege to share some perspectives about important issues that concern and affect us all.
Welcome is how you made me feel from the moment I stepped onto this place—a land of opportunity, where many come bearing gifts of expertise of noteworthy proportions. Bonjour, buenos días, sak pasé, what’s up, make up fragments of my collective identity. They identify layers of cultural intersectionality and shed light on how we are connected. Belonging is an inclusive state of being.
For true integration to exist, mutual acknowledgment is required. We must strive to be open to who people are; allow ourselves to receive the perspectives being shared, not as possessions to be harnessed or disabused but understood as personal experiences with emotional substance; and give them their due space in this reflection we call life. Embracing how we are different and alike shields us against internal and external biases and hatred. Therefore, acceptance, compassion, and togetherness are the scaffold upon which we are to build, empathetic humanity.
So, how can we expand our reach beyond the confines of these walls? Let us engage our skilled minds and flexible thoughts to preserve the integrity of that which is dear, practice cultural dexterity that aims to repair and not damage, and hold open the door of possibilities lest you feel intimidated by the enormity of righting past wrongs.
Openness is key to gleaning knowledge from diverse perspectives. Live and experience this day as an opportunity to illustrate superlatives of thought, practice, and action by lifting up one another without hesitation. Chutes and ladders are life’s natural cadence. But, let us choose to focus on an upward-facing journey for all. Do no harm, and care for one another in a manner that punctuates the significance of this unique privilege.
Crimson minds functioning at their best can extend beyond the aspirational. Good enough is just numbing medicine, and simply will not do. Accepting nothing short of success is a signature mindset. So, let us remember this charge, as we don our respective white coats. And for those of us who work sans white symbolic attire, our job is equally critical to the integrity of the professional collective. Yes, we have a lot of work to do but together we can, as Maya Angelou says—“rise.” To reach insurmountable summits with excellence, we can reflect on those who went before us. Nelson Mandela once said—“Change always seems impossible until it’s done.”
Fadie T. Coleman, PhD
Assistant Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging