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 Robert, a StockX software engineer.
The following interview has been lightly edited.
What was your first experience with Black History Month?
I remember learning about Black History Month in the first grade. I was fortunate to have a teacher that delivered lessons on African American figures with passion and enthusiasm. She reveled in being a person that could tell the story of Harriet Tubman to young minds.
How has Black History Month personally inspired you?
I spent the majority of my life hating every minute of school. I particularly struggled in all of my history courses. However, there would be a few times where I unknowingly felt like I could actually engage with the material. Looking back, I realize that it was on the topics of African American history and race relations in America, which were by no coincidence often brought into the curriculum during February. I would take that with me to college and focus my studies on race, identity, ethnic relations, and film, studying the careers of figures like Dorthy Dandgride and Fredi Washington. I feel blessed and indebted to my Africana Studies professors, especially Donald Bogle, Dorothy Roberts, and Tamara Nopper, who personally reached out and encouraged me to pursue my studies in this area during my time in school and in the years following. This narrative would truly come full circle when as a teacher, I saw students of my own turn a 180 in school once we began our lessons on black history. From kids like that, I am constantly reminded of the value of Black History Month.
Why do you think Black History Month is so important?
Black history is interwoven into every fabric of this country’s being. Black History Month plays a part in a larger necessity that helps ensure that essential names, events, and traditions are preserved in our minds when our memories might otherwise fail us.
Why is it important for StockX to honor Black History Month?
For starters, there would be no StockX without key African American figures that not only influenced but built the culture that our company is founded on. With the reach of our brand, we have the opportunity to teach the world about black history and be on the right side of history by proactively doing right in the communities that we benefit from. Killer Mike once said that he would never get Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and James Baldwin into textbooks, “but [he] can give that to them at 15 if [he has] a James Baldwin Nike. Somebody’s gonna say ‘What, who’s James Baldwin?’” Every company needs to honor Black History Month as a part of remembering the legacy of people that fought for and continue to work towards building a better society in which they operate. However, it’s also essential that companies do it the right way and use the opportunity as a means of proper education and giving back.
What do you think is Black History Month’s legacy?
First, let us consider the alternative to us not expanding Black History Month. We have already lost many names in history books of those who were bullied, abused, and killed in the struggle for equality–how many more would we lose without an opportunity and proactive effort each year to celebrate black history? As we look back, I think we’ll be able to tell future generations of how much progress has been made in delivering a more comprehensive view of history and the world, because of the efforts that we took now.
Be sure to check out more of our celebration of Black History Month.
