As the nation celebrates Black History Month, the O’Neill School is working to amplify Black voices within our own community. From students to faculty and alumni, the O’Neill IUPUI blog will feature guest posts throughout February discussing the individual’s research, fields of expertise, and/or experiences.
Written by: Dr. Caroline Bailey, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, O’Neill School at IUPUI
Black History Month brings forth a mixture of emotions for me. On the one hand, there is a sense of sorrow when I think about the millions of Black people who were stolen from their homeland and brought to America to work for free under the violent rule of white men and women, destroying generations of Black family lineage, culture, and wealth. During this month it is commonplace to turn on the television and see movies that are meant to document the experiences of slavery, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights era. While I appreciate the telling of these dark periods in American history, it is such a terrible reminder of the cruelty and suffering that Black people in America have experienced and continue to experience.
On the other hand, there is a sense of pride as we celebrate the accomplishments of countless African Americans even amid unprecedented oppression and mistreatment. Given all the adversity faced by Black people throughout history, it is even more remarkable to consider all that we have contributed to this country. As a result, African American culture, intellect, and pride are woven throughout the fabric of America. Whether it is Harriet Tubman’s determination to liberate her people, Ruby Bridges’ courage to integrate schools in New Orleans, the invention of the traffic light by Garrett Morgan, or the pioneering of open-heart surgery by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, African American women and men have given tremendously to a country that has taken so much from them.