By any account,
the past year has been challenging. The pandemic,
social injustice, and political maleficence have made it hard to maintain a
positive mindset at times. While many Americans
have been affected by these issues, it is clear that the effects on the Black Community
have been devastating. That’s why this Graduation
Season is so important. In the midst of
all the negativity, it is necessary that we shine a light on the positive
accomplishments and contributions of our high school and college graduates.
Today, we have more Black men and women graduating from college than at any other time in history. These young people have chosen to be more despite societal obstacles and roadblocks. What we hope is that these achievers will lead us to a more just, safe, and compassionate society.
We need to celebrate these students who put in the effort to obtain an education. Those who didn’t quit when it got hard and remained positive and focused during a tsunami of negativity. While they may not quite understand the importance of their achievements today, it is certain that their educational perseverance will have a positive impact on our communities for years to come.
So if you see someone who is graduating, congratulate them on their achievement, encourage them to be all that they can be, and thank them for choosing to affect change in a positive and constructive manner.
S. A. Miller
