Happy Black History Month, Trojans! This month of February is a wonderful time to reflect on the accomplishments of those in the Black community as well as the importance of diversity in our daily lives. Let’s hear what some of our students have to say about the importance of Black History Month!

For Timothy Rawls, Black History Month is a time for celebration. “I get to celebrate who I am,” he states, “and not just me but also those around me.” This is a beautiful aspect of Black History Month: It simultaneously emphasizes the importance of the individual as well as the community. Ariel Johnson appreciates this community aspect, stating that Black History Month is about “being able to bond with others.” Similarly, Adam Buckner enjoys being “able to celebrate the people who have risen above their circumstances” while simultaneously celebrating the ways these individuals have been able to advance not only the Black community “but the country as a whole.”

One such person Adam celebrates in the Black community is Coco Gauff. As a tennis player here at Anderson University, Adam comments on the fact that “you don’t really see very many people of color within the sport, and so, whenever there are professional athletes in tennis that are Black, you really gravitate toward them” because you think “hey, they look like me, and they’re playing at the highest level.” In the same way, Chase Henderson views Barack Obama as an inspirational figure because “Black people didn’t think that they could be that high up at first, and when he did it, it was like, ‘Well, why shouldn’t I?’ ”

Taking the time to learn about individuals such as these in relation to Black history is so valuable because it leads to inspiration and growth, and for Azaria Crenshaw, learning is a part of who she is. “I’m learning, and I always want to learn,” she shares. “Learning about specifically Black history is just so important, so crucial for our lives now and what we do on a day-to-day basis.”

When thinking about Black History Month, Hayley Goodwin comments on the importance of being your authentic self. Through something as simple as your fashion choices, you can display so much about yourself, and Hayley believes that “having that first impression” be “a true representation of who you are and your personality is really important” because it says that “this is who I am; this is who I stand for.” Timothy agrees, stating, “It allows you as a person to be yourself and shows that you’re comfortable being who you are and showing those around you what you like.” When considering his fashion choices, Chase concludes, “I’ll see Black men in suits and how people just look at them, and they’re like, ‘Wow, he looks really sharp.’ That’s why I like dressing up in suits or a button down and a tie. If you look good, you feel good, and if you feel good, you act good.” Black History Month calls us to such a mindset. When we learn to embrace our individuality unapologetically, we are on the road to becoming the best versions of ourselves.

When reflecting on individual style, Ariel muses, “I feel like it’s kind of going away, which is really sad because I feel like when people do express themselves in a style that you haven’t seen, everyone just thinks of it as weird or something, which is not good because we’re all supposed to be different; we’re not meant to look the same.” Chase conveys a similar sentiment when he states, “If we all look the same, what’s the point? I think it is so boring when people walk around with the same shoes, same shirts.” At the heart of Black History Month is a call to embrace diversity and our uniqueness as individuals. “You don’t want to be fake,” Azaria expresses simply.

What is beautiful about embracing diversity is that through it, we often realize just how similar we all are. This is something Chase has experienced personally. “I’ve had different instances where I actually ended up sharing more with someone who I thought was drastically different from me,” he muses. “If I hadn’t extended my community from people who look like me, then I would have never seen that.” Additionally, diversity invites creativity. Hayley reflects that when working with one group of people, “there’s no sort of creativity that comes out of it because it’s all the same ideas just circling around.” For new perspectives to emerge, we must embrace diversity.

For Azaria, diversity is about including others and making them feel seen. “There’s a statement that I have on my bio actually right now that says, ‘make one person feel seen today,’ ” she shares, “and I think, with the aspect of diversity, when that one person gets seen, they’ll be like, ‘Okay, I have people out there that care for me,’ and it’s just like a trickle effect.” Adam expresses a related view on diversity, stating, “I think it’s amazing because I get to learn more about people who are made in the image of God and not just see the world through my eyes.”

At its core, Black History Month truly is about seeing. Seeing the hardships faced by the Black community. Seeing the steps those have taken to make the world a better place. Seeing where we have come from. Seeing where we are now. And seeing where we hope to be in the future. When we see the world through God’s eyes, we see each and every individual as a beautiful, unique child of the Most High. We see through a lens of love, conquering hate, injustice, division, fear, and exclusion. This is our calling as Christians, and so, let us strive to open our eyes each and every day to see the beautifully diverse world God has created.