Degree(s) earned: Master in Business Administration, 2017
Occupation: Chief Health Equity Officer at Kern Health Systems
Why is it important to celebrate Black History Month?
Everyone's familiar with that quote 'If we don't learn from or history, we're doomed to repeat it.' We have an obligation to study history so that we don't repeat the actions of or the negative actions of history, and that's not possible if we don't actually know our history. Also, history is beautiful and or some parts of our history beautiful, and they become part of a beautiful narrative and tapestry.
Black history is simply part of American history. There is no part of American history that is not informed and fully integrated with Black people and our contributions. Obviously there are some negative things like slavery and Jim Crow that we want to learn from and don't want ever do again. but it's important that we understand that Black history is just fully woven into American history. If we don't learn how to do this effectively with Black history, we're not likely to be able to incorporate other histories into the narrative of the broader narrative of American history.
We can learn about things not to do from that history, and we need to find better ways to incorporate the wins and the contributions of Black Americans into the narrative and the tapestry of American history. Neither of those things will happen if we don't know Black history. Legally, you don't have to celebrate Black history. Celebrations are never mandatory; they are always a choice. We should celebrate all of the beautiful cultures, histories and the narratives that make America great. Black History Month is just a really intentional, effective way to do that work with fidelity.
What are ways we can celebrate Black History in our everyday lives, not just in February?
One of the things that you'll hear in in Black circles is our history should not be distilled to one month, and I agree with that. There are some very specific ways that you can celebrate Black history or Black success all year long. Participate in celebratory events whether it's at your school, places of work or in society. Embrace cultural celebrations, like Juneteenth, or other times of the year. You can celebrate by supporting Black churches every Sunday or during the week. Patronize Black businesses and Black-owned restaurants. People say crazy stuff about Black folks and attack our identity for no reason; speak up for us.
These are some of the things that you can do on an ongoing basis, and it might not happen all the time, but when it does happen, it really makes a big difference when friends, allies and advocates actually step up — things that give us a stronger sense of belonging. Whatever behaviors you can demonstrate that are going to give Black folks a stronger sense of belonging in society, that's how you can celebrate Black history all year long. If we're part of a family all year long in America, then please help celebrate us by doing things to help us feel a stronger sense of belonging.
As a CSUB alum, what is one of your favorite memories, or who was one of your favorite professors/staff members during your time as a student?
A seminal moment in my experience at CSUB was the one time when I was close to quitting. My wife almost passed away 10 years ago, and I was in the MBA program. I rushed my wife to the emergency room, and she almost died that night. We realized that we had some really difficult decisions to make about her care, saving her life and understanding we might lose our baby because the doctor said, 'You can save her life, but you probably can't save the baby. It's not developed enough. And if we do heart surgery, all this stuff, the baby will die.'
I remember texting my MBA cohort and emailing my professor, Dr. Zhou, who taught the hardest class that I was taking that year. I said that I’m going to flunk. I'm out of the program. There's no way I'm not going to not be there for my wife. The program has to take a backseat. I had to take time off work. I couldn’t finish the class. My group mates wrote back and we had a conversation. They said to me, 'You're going to graduate with us. We will literally do whatever we need to. We're going to go to the professor first of all, and we're going to tell her we'll do his assignments for two weeks and then as long as he can make it back for the group project, we need him to speak. He's a great communicator, and he's helped us on all these other classes, and he's our top communicator for the final presentation we've already identified. That's his skill. So, can we help him?” And my professor even wrote back a couple of days later, and she said, 'So, your team's not going to let you drop the class. They came to me, and I've listened to them. You're also brilliant, and I want you to continue in the class. So as long as you can make it back for the final exam and final presentation, that will be your grade.'
I remember being in the hospital just bawling because that is what belonging looks like. You can't even ask someone to care that hard, to want you to stay that much or to believe in you that much. After that, there was no way I could quit. They were counting on me. The professor believed in me. I remember telling my wife, and she told me that I couldn't quit. It's a sad memory because of what was happening in my personal life, but it is also favorite memory from CSUB’s MBA program, so much so that I remember when I won the Outstanding Graduate award, I shared that story, because every time I think of any success that I've had connected to my MBA, my mind automatically goes back to that moment when I recognized that if I could get past this, I could get past anything.
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)