To Berkeley High School junior Marly White, Black Excellence represents the creativity and toughness of the Black community through racism and immense struggle. “Black Excellence, to me, is a reflection of resilience, creativity and achievement in the face of bullying (and) adversity,” White said. White connected this idea to the recent Summer Olympics, which according to her, represents the strength and capability of Black people even while facing scrutiny.
For Selmon Fitzum, a BHS freshman, Black Excellence signifies the success of Black people even within systems that are built on the foundation of racism and violence. “It means striving … and trying to make (Black people) succeed, especially in an environment that is just full of racist ideas,” Fitzum said. According to Fitzum, it is vital to learn about the history of racism in our country as it is so deeply ingrained into our institutions that people often overlook why Black people face adversity.
Montay Roberts, a BHS senior, believes that a large part of Black Excellence is making sure the Black community is able to uplift each other. “Looking out for your people in a community, and … just trying to support each other and uphold each other,” Roberts said. Roberts added that although there are great disparities included in the Black experience, Black Excellence means continuing to strive for greatness despite adversity.
According to Rushdy Wright, a BHS freshman, Black Excellence is about recognizing Black history and using it to empower the Black community of today. “I think Black Excellence means just acknowledging the history of what happened to Black people and how strong they were … embracing all that and becoming into what they are now,” Wright said. He believes Black History Month is a productive way to bring extra attention to the past and current realities of Black Americans.