Black History Month is an important celebration where everyone can come together to talk, share, listen, explore, and learn about the central importance of the black experience in American society.
For this installment, we talked with StockX team member Matese from the Product Design team.
The following interview has been lightly edited.
What was your first experience with Black History Month?
I don’t vividly remember my first experience with Black History Month but my parents did a great job of educating me when I was young and always instilled in me the importance of what it means to be a black man in America. I remember being in middle school and having a black history teacher for the first time and really getting to hear her stories and experiences. Having a teacher who studied history, grew up during the civil rights era, and used that knowledge to teach us our history was very enlightening for me.
How has Black History Month personally inspired you?
Black history—not just the month—inspires me because it has taught me that no matter the circumstances or obstacles, I can do anything. Black history has taught me perseverance and given me confidence. Seeing someone that looks like you going out and winning, no matter what, is inspiring and pushes me to be better constantly.
Why do you think Black History Month is so important?
I think Black History Month is important because this country was built from black history. So much in America was created by black people. It’s important to use this month as a celebration of our culture and to teach people who might not otherwise know the history of what it means to be black, and how we are where we are today. It’s important to celebrate those that came before us that risked and lost their lives to make America a better place for our generation. I think Black History Month is important for the younger generations as well because it is important we grow up loving ourselves, loving our culture, and using the knowledge of where we have been to make what we can be even better.
Why is it important for StockX to honor Black History Month?
StockX interacts with our culture on a daily basis and a lot of streetwear and sneaker culture today is pulled from the black community. It is important for our company to acknowledge that and continue to employ people of other cultures as well as continue to understand the background of our culture.
What do you think is Black History Month’s legacy?
Hopefully, Black History Month will be more than a month. Black history is American history and should be celebrated as such.
Be sure to check out more of our celebration of Black History Month.
