Stories of Strength: Black History Month
During this years’ Black History Month, we invited agency staff to participate in a new MACAA project, Stories of Strength, with the intent to recognize the accomplishments and experiences of our Black and African American team members. In 500 words, participating staff told us their stories after reflecting on the following questions— What is your hope for the future of our community, what mission moment at MACAA stands out to you most, and why have you chosen community action work?
We have featured a few of these stories on our Facebook page over the past month, and today we share all of the stories and reflections of our incredible staff who courageously participated in this project.
Barbara Smith, Head Start Assistant Director
“My personal mantra, ‘Tis’ a job once begun, never stop until it’s done. Be the labour great or small, do it well or not at all.’
There is something about hearing the national anthem and the lyrics that says, ‘O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.’ I cannot help but wonder who is free when countless people suffer from the social ills that plague the greatest nation on the planet? We live, move, and operate within a system of government that is strategically structured to benefit one group of people. This is a truth that many choose to ignore as it means having to share power.
Having been blessed to have brown skin as my Earth suit comes with everyday occurrences that many folks do not have to contend. Who will be the voice of the voiceless? I say like the prophet Isaiah, ‘Here am I.’ I am grateful to put my hands to the plow in the work that endeavors to make impact in the lives of those most in need in our community. I have pledged my professional career to tirelessly work so that children and families will have an opportunity to a life not readily afforded them.
Community action work realizes poverty does not end at five o’clock each evening. It involves taking risks by speaking truth to power on behalf of those that are disenfranchised. Won’t you join us in this important work so that this land really does belong to you and me?”
Samara Kingston, Head Start Lead Teacher
"As a Pre-K Teacher with MACAA Head Start, I am frequently reminded of the bliss that comes with childhood. Because of that bliss and joy of life, most children are extremely resilient when confronted with adversity. They adapt in trying times; they cry when they are hurt; they jump around when they are happy; they even find ‘play’ during the most unusual of circumstances. Children are true examples of transparency.
However, as the saying goes ignorance is bliss. Either children do not know a great deal, or they are wise beyond our understanding. We do understand, however, that children are not always privy to the details of life. Often, we find that children will begin to develop a great awareness of their own lack of understanding. When they cannot reach answers on their own, they began to ask ‘why?’
As we grow and mature into adulthood we continue to question ‘why’ and apply it to just about everything. We no longer want the bliss of ignorance. We desire to know the answers to ‘why’ while maintaining our bliss. We are faced with a conundrum trying to find the balance of creating a world full of happy, blissful individuals, simultaneously holding the answers to ‘why’ questions. My hope for the future of many communities is to find and maintain that balance.
My hope for the MACAA community is that we do not rid ourselves of the good that already exist in efforts to create something good. It is my hope that we can create something new without destroying the old. I hope that we can put equity into practice. It is my hope that we care for those who are marginalized, and that we remember to also care for those who are not. It is my hope that MACAA’s commitment to diversity and cultural acceptance does not cause us to eliminate cultures from the classrooms in efforts not to offend anyone, but rather to invite cultures into the classroom in efforts to learn from and enlighten one another. It is my hope that we collaborate, and compete respectfully, knowing that our competitors are poverty, lack of education, discrimination in all forms, and hopelessness.
My hope for the community abroad is that we respect differences, that we honor the inalienable rights of people in our community. I hope that we understand how to respect those rights in this extremely, highly technologically advanced age of the 21st century. It is my hope that in trying to create a better world, that we do not become the source of problems for others, only tipping the scale to the other side, again creating partiality rather than fairness. It is my hope that we can use wisdom instead of fear and popularity to solve problems. I hope that we are not so transparent, we are left unprotected. It is my hope that we as a community become the model of maturity; that we are wise in all our dealings."
Keshia Washington, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
“As a woman of color in this community, my biggest hope is that we get to a place where we, as a community, will stamp out systemic racism. For people of color, this is a daily lived experience that has been embedded as a normal practice in our society. My hope is to get past providing temporarily solutions and, instead, address the issue of systemic racism entirely. In our community, many people do not know, or choose to ignore, the disparities that people of color experience. Many people of color experience things such as: lack of health care, underpayment, lack of advancement opportunities at work, modern-day redlining in neighborhoods, educational challenges for children, and the list goes on.
To grow as a community, we need face systemic racism head on. I do believe that the call for this is now, and that many organizations and agencies are taking a stand and saying, ‘No more.’ As a woman of color, I am confident that as a community we know that the work will not be easy. We will have to open wounds and make many people uncomfortable before change can occur. However, I would like to think that it is people like myself and strong allies who are coming to the community table with our sleeves rolled up ready to carry on the work that many before us have started.
My hope is that in tackling systemic racism, many do not become discouraged regarding the time it has and will continue to take for changes to be made. Instead, we will celebrate each victory, however small it might be, and commit to our roles in this work for ourselves, our neighborhoods, and the communities we serve.”
Sharon Jones, Head Start Assistant Teacher
“You watch the evening news. You see the attacks on people of color. Never would I have believed what happened to me on September 11, 2020 as I was leaving the Food Lion on 5th Street Extended in Charlottesville, VA. My oldest son and I purchased groceries and headed to the car. As I back out of my parking space, a friend and retired educator, pulled into the same lane. We hadn’t seen each other in a while so we were excited to see each other. We were talking about the virtual education and how things were going. We hear yelling from a man who was walking along the outside of the store. “No talking in the parking lot!” he yelled. We look at him wondering why he was yelling. He repeated himself, “No talking in the parking lot!” This time we said our goodbyes.
As I was waiting to turn right to leave the parking lot, the man was standing in front of the entrance to the store. He looked at me with eyes glaring and said, “B**** do you want to die?” I asked, “Who are you talking to?” He started to approach my car yelling even louder, “B**** do you want to die?” My son, who was in the car with me, shouts at him, “Go and get your groceries and move away!” I was shaking and nervous as I drove away. When I reached the end of the parking lot, I advised my son to call the police. I turned around and parked to wait for the police to arrive. While we were waiting, the man left the store through another entrance. My son was able to capture a picture of him, as well as a picture of his car and license plate. This white man who stood about 6’ 3” made me feel like I how I imagine Trayvon Martin felt as he walked in his neighborhood minding his business. With his fists balled as he approached, I had no idea if he was armed. So many thoughts and emotions ran through my mind as I waited for the police. This really just happened to me. I wasn’t watching the news. This was live!
The police arrived and asked me what I wanted to do. This didn’t sit well with me. With all the movements across the nation, you ask me that question? My son provided the photos to the officers. The officer told me that today was his Friday, and he would get back with me on Monday. I thought about it and went to the magistrate’s office the next day and swore out a warrant. The Commonwealth’s Attorney informed me that they could not assist me as I made a citizen’s arrest. The officer never returned any calls to me regarding subpoenaing witnesses. I had eight days before my court date. The employees at the Clerk’s office were very helpful, and I was able to secure my witness in time for the court date; the responding officer, however, was not.
The day of my hearing, the defendant’s lawyer didn’t show up until an hour and a half past the scheduled hearing time. As I sat there waiting, I began to feel like the families of people of color who had been killed at the hands of whites. No justice. When the lawyer finally arrived and the judge heard my witness statements as well as mine, the man was found guilty of cursing and abusing.
I could have given up and let this man continue to feel entitled to approach people of color and say threatening things, but I didn’t. When the officer would not cooperate, it gave me more energy. When the Commonwealth’s Attorney's office said no, I gained more energy. When the lawyer was late, I told myself, this delay is for my protection. I do not want anyone to have to endure the feelings I’ve experienced since September 11, 2020. I want my community of Charlottesville to return to the loving community I grew up in. I want the kindness to blossom again. I shouldn’t have to live in the fear that my sons — because of their skin color — may not return home after going to the park to play basketball. I should be able to shop anywhere without the fear of running into someone who feels they are entitled to say and do anything they want to a person of color. It’s not hard. Let’s try it!”
Eunice Baskfield, Navigation Specialist
"My story has been none too short of heartache, joy, and optimism. As a young Black woman in the late 70’s, I experienced racism in the workplace. Imagine being told, ‘The only reason I hired you is because you are black. I don’t need you anymore because I met my quota.’ Those words still ring in my ears over 40 years later. That was my heartache.
My joy came when I had my children and graduated from college the same year my daughter graduated from high school. I am optimistic now about the future, even in the mist of what we all are going through. We may be different in many ways, but we all have a dash. My hope for the community would be that we all strive to work together for the good of bringing people together. We are so divided right now that it makes me sick in the pit of my stomach. I am not naïve to the fact that racism still is among us, and I really thought we were moving towards progression, but in the past few years we seem to have regressed. However, there is hope ahead.
The part of MACAA’s mission that stands out the most to me is helping people to become self-sufficient. When that happens, we are building the community. I chose community action work because I am passionate about helping people who are in need or just need someone to talk to. If I can make a difference in a positive way to one person, then my work has not been in vain."