Black History 2026- Still Getting It Done

During February, people will have the opportunity to be educated, enlightened, and inspired by the contributions of Black Americans in the development of the United States of America.  While Black History is to be recognized and celebrated every day, February, historically, offers even more opportunities to explore the importance of Black Americans in the history of this country.

It is no secret that Black History is the target of a white power strategy to diminish, minimize, and eliminate the significance of Black History in America.  In 2025, the National Park Service was ordered to remove signs and exhibits in U.S. national parks that referenced the history of slavery.  Recently the exhibit titled “Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation” was removed from Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.  In 2025, the U.S. government ordered the removal of the memorial to Black American soldiers who fought in Europe during World War II that was located at the American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands.  No, doubt, the assault on Black History is a clear and present danger.

This is why it is imperative to illuminate examples of how Black folks are still “getting it done” despite the continual attacks.  The fact of the matter is the Black experience in America has been a four hundred year challenge, yet Blacks still stand today with an unwavering resilience against bigotry, hate, and discrimination.

Consider the work of Dr. Ed Hightower, a former school superintendent and college basketball referee.  In 2024, Dr. Hightower initiated the “Venice Revitalization Project” in Venice, Illinois, a community that has lost significant jobs and population over the last 20 years.  A new elementary school opened in 2025, a new grocery store is scheduled to open in 2026, and there are plans for a medical center and affordable housing.  In addition to securing funding for the project, it is reported that Dr. Hightower invested over three million dollars of his own money.

Another example is that of Corenza Townsend, the Chief Administrator Officer at Norton West Louisville Hospital located in Louisville, Kentucky.  Over eight years ago, when she was a nurse manager, she pitched the idea to the powers that be of a new hospital in the predominantly Black West End neighborhood.  The project was approved, and today, she is the chief executive officer of the hospital.

Recently an exhibit titled “The Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs” opened at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.  The exhibit is a repository for artifacts from HBCUs including Clark University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, Texas Southern University, and Tuskegee University.  This effort to preserve history, and other efforts like it, provides clear proof that Black American History will never be erased.

In conclusion, Black Americans are here.  They have been here a very long time using their intellect, knowledge, creativity, compassion, and the blessings of a Divine Spirit to navigate a society that often has difficulty being respectful and inclusive.  From their first steps on this land, Black Americans have sought freedom, fairness, and equal opportunity.  It has been a four hundred year journey with many trials and tribulations; but also a journey with so many successes and accomplishments.  We must never lose sight of these accomplishments, which brings us back to the importance of Black History.  No other people have suffered as much, yet still rise to the challenge everyday.  That is the history that has to be preserved and appreciated.

Black folks are still “getting it done”.  The History tells us so.

CHANGE IS COMING- KEEP WORKING

November marks one year since the 2024 presidential election.  Many people were disappointed with the results, while others celebrated.  There have been countless analyses by pundits and practitioners who profess to know about all things political as to why the results were as they were.   The simple fact is that there were people who would not suppress their prejudices and biases, and would not vote for a Black woman.

While looking back will not change the results, I invite you to think about the enthusiasm that gripped the nation when Vice President Harris began her campaign.  There was energy in the  people as they considered the possibilities.  Her qualifications were clear, her ideas were diverse, equitable, and inclusive.  A lot of supporters, and even non-supporters could see the basis for a brighter future.  Even the mainstream media, as much as they tried, could not diminish the enthusiasm.  Reflect for a moment on the Democratic National Convention in August, 2024.  People that I talked to said they’d never witnessed such an enthusiastic, entertaining, and inclusive political convention.  Many of those same people were all but certain that on January 20th, 2025, President Harris would be sworn in, and the United States of America would continue the journey towards a more prosperous union for all of its citizens.

It didn’t happen, and the last ten months have been filled with chaos, confusion, corruption, and incompetence.  Prices are higher and opportunities are fewer.  Hard-working people are losing their homes and hard-working farmers are losing their livelihoods.  Again, revisiting the election won’t change any of that, but for just a moment it’s okay to think about where we could be if the results had been different.

So, what do we do?  We keep moving forward.  I hear too many people try to comfort themselves by suggesting, “We only got to put up with this for three more years.” or “Things will change after the mid-term elections.”  In reality, we have no idea what The Universe has planned.  We don’t know when change will come, but the Universe guarantees that it will.  That doesn’t mean you just sit back and wait until it does.  Instead, like-minded people have to continue to work together to create a society where people are kind and considerate to each other; where diversity is understood and valued; where equal opportunity returns to both the C-Suites and the college classrooms; where all children have access to quality education, sufficient nutrition, and effective health care.  The Hope and Faith that was the catalyst for the enthusiasm before the election, has to be the same Hope and Faith that continually regenerates that enthusiasm until the change comes.

The stress that people feel is real.  They wonder if, or when things will get better.  There is a spiritual written by R. Nathaniel Dett that the Elders used to sing named “I’m So Glad”.  The first line of the song is, “I’m so glad that trouble don’t last always.”  The song was written in 1924.  Think about all the trouble that has come and gone since then.    

Change is coming.  The Universe assures it.  Keep working.

Love Ye One Another

A while back, I read an article that discussed which of the Ten Commandments was the hardest for humans to keep.  I believe that’s a valid question.  I suspect that all of us violate two or three or more a day no matter how saintly we might think ourselves to be.

Now, I’m not a religious scholar, nor am I an expert on the Bible.  I don’t quote scripture as part of my general conversation, but I have experienced people who use scripture to validate their comments or behavior.  I’ve also experienced those who use scripture to denounce the behavior or comments of those with whom they disagree.

Well I’m going to take some poetic license and paraphrase what I believe is the simplest, yet most powerful commandment ever given: “Love ye one another, as I have loved you.”(John 13:34)  The Master Spirit asks no more of us than to Love each other.  And yet this seems to be the one commandment we have the most problem living up to.

Our society has become so antagonistic that we have more and more difficulty being civil to one another.  We discriminate based on looks, gender, race, lifestyle, income, education, neighborhood, size, and a whole lot of other variables that make us unique as human beings.  And there are those who use scripture to validate their discrimination.  It would seem to me that the Master Spirit, who has created all of us, would never condone any one of us purposely being cruel to another human being.  Again, the commandment says, “Love ye one another, as I have loved you.”  And if you question whether the Master Spirit loves you, look out the window.

While I’m at it, I’m going to share another scripture that I’ve heard the preacher use.  To paraphrase, the Master Spirit asks, “How can you say you love me whom you’ve never seen, yet hate your brother who you see everyday?”(1John 4:20)  There are those who continually proclaim that they “love the Lord”, yet they badmouth, ridicule, and purposely deceive their neighbors everyday.

Back in 1972, Marvin Gaye sang a song named “God is Love”.  One of the lyrics goes as follows:  “Don’t go and talk about my Father, God is my friend.  He made this world for us to live in, and gave us everything.  And all he asks of us is to give each other love.”  Pretty simple.  The Master Spirit will provide all of your needs.  All you need to do is love one another.  That’s a pretty good deal, if you ask me.

S. A. Miller

Hierarchical Patriarchy, Immoralists, Racists, Sexists, and the 2024 Election

Throughout the Vice President Kamala Harris presidential campaign we heard “save our democracy”.  This call suggested that VP Harris’ opponent was an existential threat to democracy and had to be stopped.  Constituents from various factions: conservatives, liberals, Republicans, Democrats, private sector, public sector, all appeared on countless media shows warning us of the danger.  Well, VP Harris did not win, yet many of the political media pundits were quick to extol the virtues of a democracy that “worked” because “the People” were the final arbitrators in deciding who would be president beginning on January 21, 2025.  If that is the case, then “the People” have a much bigger problem than saving democracy.

Being subservient to a hierarchical patriarchy is not

the only reason VP Harris did not win the election.  

She lost because so many of “the People” are racist, 

sexist, and immoralist.  Be clear these “People” come 

from all cultures, ethnicities, races, genders, ages, and 

political affiliations.  They come from lily white 

suburbs and chocolate inner cities.  It wasn’t the 

rhetoric of the opponent that was persuasive, it was 

too many of “the People” not allowing themselves to 

fill in the bubble for a Black woman.  Because of  that, 

women will have a greater struggle for quality health 

care, Putin will get Ukraine, Netanyahu will get Gaza, 

the rich will get richer, and the middle class will get

poorer.  Unfortunately, many of “the People” reside in 

the middle class.

There, simply, are too many people in this United

 

States society that cannot and will not support a Black 

woman for president.  The experts can analyze all they 

want.  They can say VP Harris should have done this, 

or the Democratic party should have done that.  It 

doesn’t matter unless someone figures how to make 

“the People” less beholden to a  hierarchical 

patriarchy and willing to change their divisive, and to 

some extent, destructive attitudes, and behaviors.  We 

must find a way to resolve the cognitive dissonance 

that “the People” have that won’t allow them to elect a 

Black woman even when the opponent isn’t qualified.  

If the Democratic candidate had been a White male, he 

would be the one entering the White House in January, 

2025 because the character of the Republican 

candidate disqualified him from any serious 

consideration.

Exhaustive analysis of why the 2024 election resulted 

in the way it did can be done from now until Kingdom 

Come.  Some will argue that certain demographics 

didn’t provide the expected support.  Others will 

suggest there just wasn’t enough time for the public to 

learn about VP Harris.  There will also be some who 

will believe that her opponent ran an “excellent” 

campaign.  When the whole story is told somewhere 

down the road, these reasons will only be ancillary.  

The real reason that VP Harris will not be president 

for the next four years is because “the People” could 

not let loose, not even for one day, their prejudice and 

bias.  That their reverence to a hierarchical patriarchy, 

and of their racist and sexist tendencies would not 

allow them to vote for a Black woman.  My, my, what 

a loss.

The Salad Bowl versus The Bowl of Gumbo

We have heard scholars, educators, and politicians refer to the merging of cultures in the United States as a “salad bowl”.  Others have used the term “gumbo” to describe this melding of cultures which is one of the greatest strengths of this democracy.

The recent 2024 national conventions by the Republican and Democratic parties were full of excitement and enthusiasm to nominate their respective presidential candidates, but there was a distinct difference in how that excitement and enthusiasm was presented. 

The Republican convention was more traditional  and reminiscent of conventions of the past.  It was presented as a bowl of salad: a variety of ingredients mixed together, not necessarily chosen to enhance one another’s flavor, but to compliment.  Salads are served cold, and are generally accompanied by dressing to add flavor.

The Democratic convention was fresh, inclusive, and upbeat.  It was presented as a bowl of gumbo: a variety of ingredients, specifically chosen to enhance the flavor of all of the ingredients while simmering in the roux.  A bowl of gumbo is expected to be spicy, flavorful, and hot, and the Democratic convention was all of that.  The speakers were diverse and inclusive.  The topics were varied and touching.  The entertainment was on-point and unprecedented.  All of the elements flowed together, each one enhancing the other.  It was a well-produced, well-organized television show.

So, I suspect there are many who left the Republican convention satisfied by what they experienced, and are still enthused and excited.  For them, the salad bowl experience worked.  I also suspect that there are many who left the Democratic convention full, enthused, and excited from their gumbo experience.  It will be interesting to see which dish prevails.  I’m not sure that a salad can stand up against the spice, heat, and flavor of a bowl of gumbo.

S. A. Miller

8.25.2024

The 1964 Civil Rights Act- Relevant and Necessary

July 2, 1964 is one of the most important dates in modern United States history.  That is the date that President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  CRA 1964 was passed by the United States Congress and had the purpose of codifying basic civil rights for Black Americans by: 

…enforcing the constitutional right to vote… to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations…to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, and to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity…

Source: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/civil-rights-act#

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Provisions of this civil rights act forbade discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as, race in hiring, promoting, and firing. The Act prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and federally funded programs. It also strengthened the enforcement of voting rights and the desegregation of schools.
Source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/civil-rights-center/statutes/civil-rights-act-of-1964

The passage of CRA 1964 was not the first attempt by Congress to make it illegal to discriminate against freed African slaves and their descendants.  The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation did not make discrimination and bigotry disappear.  Instead, slave owners and their supporters made post slavery life extremely difficult for freed slaves, so forward-thinking members of Congress, who believed Black Americans should have access to the same rights as any other U.S. citizen, began crafting civil rights legislation.

The first Civil Rights Act was in 1866, a direct response to the Black Codes of 1865.  President Andrew Johnson vetoed the bill, but Congress was able to override the veto.  In 1871 Congress passed a Civil Rights Act that empowered the federal government to use military force against people and organizations that denied the constitutional rights of other citizens.  The enforcement of the Act was specifically targeted towards White supremacy groups that continued to terrorize Black citizens.

The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first major civil rights legislation since Reconstruction and authorized the prosecution of persons who violated any U. S. citizen’s right to vote.  CRA 1957 was initiated by President Dwight Eisenhower and established a Commission on Civil Rights to investigate civil rights violations, and also established a Civil Rights Division within the Department of Justice.  There also was the Civil Rights Act of 1960 that focused on retention of voting records.

The signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 offered hope for better days for Blacks in America.  For 100 years Blacks had fought and died to have the same basic rights that White Americans had.  Africans did not come here by choice, so when the law changed, and the chains were no longer legal, that should have been the watershed moment that opened up the doors to opportunity for Black Americans.  That did not happen, and ever since, it’s been necessary to fight those who prefer to relegate Blacks to second class citizenry.  CRA 1964 seemed to be the game-changer that would move the ball further down the field, but since its passage there have been continuous legal challenges and legislative manipulation designed to move the goal posts.  Despite the challenges, CRA 1964 still serves as a powerful piece of legislation.  The Act took elements from previous Civil Rights Acts to create a more comprehensive law.  It also served as infrastructure for subsequent legislation such as the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the 1968 Fair Housing Act which was established by the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

There can be no argument that the past 60 years have been marked by tremendous progress for Black Americans in education, business, politics, housing, and social engagement, yet in 2024 there are factions determined to not only thwart continued progress, but to actually revert back to a time when Blacks did not have legal protections under the law.  Fortunately, Black folk have not been sleeping, and are using an enlightened and creative spirit to develop effective ways to squash challenges.  It is understood that protecting civil rights is an ongoing endeavor..

Some would suggest that it is fear that drives many Whites to cling to their intense desire to diminish the Black community.  They want to return to the era of Jim Crow because of a fear of being left behind as Blacks continue to gain economic, educational, and political power.  It is true that over the last 60 years Blacks have not just survived, but thrived despite relentless attacks on civil rights by neo-segregationists.  Blacks understand that past progress does not guarantee future success, thus it is necessary to remain vigilant against those who are scared.

It is both right and proper to recognize the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation, and there is no question that Juneteenth should be recognized and celebrated, but we must make sure to recognize and remember July 2^nd, 1964, the day the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law.  That date empowers us with the civil rights that have gotten us to this day, and will be the catalyst that allows us to defend and protect civil rights in the future.

The Holiday Challenge

The holiday season is based in Love, Joy, and Peace.  We celebrate the power of giving, which is the essence of Love.  We recognize and appreciate the Blessings that are bestowed upon us every day which bring us Joy.  But obtaining Peace can be more elusive because of the challenges we sometimes face.  Those challenges become more manageable we remain ever Faithful.

The holiday season provides us the perfect opportunity to practice our Spiritual Faith.  Despite the challenges we face, or have faced during the year, when we choose to engage with others, we leave the challenges to our Faith.  When we share food, toys, or clothing, our focus shifts to others, and not ourselves.  Faith allows us to unselfishly share time and compassion with those who need it, because we Believe the Spirit to take care of our own needs.  Sometimes a kind word, or a smile, or just taking the time to listen, can be the most meaningful gift, and Faith allows us to do that.  The more you put your Faith into practice, the more you approach Peace.  This Holiday Season, take the challenge and rely on your Faith to bring you Peace.

IT’S TIME TO CANCEL THE CHAOS AND CONFUSION SHOW

Over the last 75 years NBC, CBS, and ABC have been the primary broadcast television networks in the United States.  Known as the “Big Three” of broadcasting, the networks have always played a vital role in dispensing information about American culture.  Early television distributed thousands and thousands of images of cowboys heroically “taming” the wild, wild west.  In the 50’s and 60’s television reinforced the perceived cultural norms of white men as the head of the nuclear family, and white women as the domestic counterpart.  In the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s broadcast television became more diverse in its programming and talent as images of Blacks, women, and ethnic minorities become more commonplace.  During all of these eras, “The Big Three” remained the primary source for national news.  The “Evening News” was destination television, and viewers received a daily dose of what was important and worthy of their attention.  Consider the impact of television news coverage on the Civil Rights Movement and the Viet Nam war.  The “Big Three” didn’t just provide the images, they provided the commentary that they believed best served the public interest.

As the turn of the century approached, network news began to see some of its influence start to dwindle.  The Internet and cable television were emerging as influential, though not always accurate, sources for news.  With cable television and the Internet, access was on demand 24/7, so there was no real need to be in front of the television at 6:30 pm.  Additionally, Internet and cable television news products focused as much on entertainment as it did on news.  This format was appealing to many viewers and drew them away from the “Big Three”.  In order to compete, the “Big Three” began changing their focus from simply fair and accurate news to more entertainment style reporting.  Shocking stories about misbehaving celebrities and politicians began receiving as much airtime as a natural disaster.

Today, that trend continues.  Broadcast news organizations seem more interested in distributing controversy over facts, which explains why there is so much coverage given to “The Chaos and Confusion Show” that is paralyzing Washington, D. C. “The Chaos and Confusion Show” stars dysfunctional politicians who spend most of their time complaining and dispensing false information instead of working together to solve the myriad of problems facing the United States.  The “Big Three” news programs give way too much oxygen to the nonsensical statements and actions of these elected officials.  Some might suggest that the “Big Three” broadcast “The Chaos and Confusion Show” in an attempt to provide balanced news coverage, but balanced news coverage does not require the broadcasting of divisive and mean-spirited commentary.  The bottom line is that by broadcasting the ridiculousness of those who traffic in chaos and confusion, the “Big Three” are complicit in creating discord and divisiveness in our society.

I recommend that the “Big Three” make the conscious decision to thwart the purveyors of chaos and confusion and cancel “The Chaos and Confusion Show”.  It is time to return to presenting substantive news and leave the drama and ridiculousness of D. C. politicians to the Internet and cable TV.  And while some might argue that the “Big Three” have to run “The Chaos and Confusion Show” in order to compete with audience share, I submit that there is still a very large and lucrative demographic who grew up on network news, and have no interest in subscribing to what is offered on cable TV or the Internet.

Make no mistake, even with continuous competition from the Internet and cable television, the “Big Three” news organizations still wield a lot of power.  They are still respected by the industry, and trusted by the public.  Consider how often you hear ABC, or CBS, or NBC mentioned as the source for a particular story that is distributed by another news outlet.  The sooner the “Big Three” refrain from broadcasting the chaos and confusion, the sooner they will be able to use their superpower to influence and encourage viewers to become a more compassionate, respectful, and caring society.

S.A. Miller                                                      11.7.2023

The Women of AKA Sorority Getting It Done

I recently wrote an essay titled “Black Woman Excellence” (BWE) that chronicled how Black women are impacting today’s society.  The premise of the essay is that Black women are excelling at all levels of society.  That premise is reinforced by the women of AKA Sorority who have opened their own member credit union; the first of its kind.  That’s getting it done!

S.A. Miller

Video:  https://youtu.be/hhVJx6OE7F4

SOUL MUSIC YOU PROBABLY FORGOT ABOUT

Soul Music is Powerful, Rhythmic, Soothing, Energizing, Funky, Groovy, Unapologetic, Spiritual, Essential, Expressive, Internal, and Enduring.  For me, Soul Music has always been Memorable, so for June, which is Black Music Month, I want to turn you on to some of my reflections of Soul Music.

I am a child of the sixties and seventies when it comes to Soul Music.  A lot of the music from those years still hold specific memories from fifty years ago, but it’s not just the iconic records by iconic artists that played on the radio for 3 minutes and 35 seconds that I remember.  A lot of my memories come from what I call, “Soul Music You Probably Forgot About”.

Consider the song “Once I’ve Been There” by Norman Connors with Phillip Mitchell.  In my adolescent brain, I thought the message of the song was cool.  There was a  song by Deon Jackson called “Love Makes the World Go Round” that had a Motown vibe.  The incomparable Jackie Wilson had a hit song in the early seventies called “This Love Is Real” which was much different than his previous hits.  Do you remember “Sweet Inspiration” by The Sweet Inspirations, a group that once included icon Dionne Warwick?  There was Brenda and the Tabulations who softly and sweetly told us that it was “Right On the Tip of My Tongue”.  Or how about “The Bells” by The Originals who also had the hit, “Baby, I’m For Real”.  “Jealous Kind of Fella” by Garland Green was always a good record to play after you had “messed up”, and I also need to mention a little known group named The Fuzz who had one of the best love songs ever produced called “I Love You For All Seasons”.

The Dells put out a lot of good music during this time including the long “Stay in My Corner” and “Oh What a Night”, but “Always Together” was a pure song for lovers.  The Dramatics also put out some good music including “Get Off My Cloud” and the melodic “In the Rain”, but the song, “Lady Love” was a masterpiece of love.  Another masterpiece was “I’m So Proud” by the Main Ingredient.  This song was written by the lyrical master of soul, Curtis Mayfield and originally performed by the Impressions.

There is lot more music in my adolescent life’s soundtrack including “Cowboys to Girls” written by Gamble and Huff, and performed by the Intruders; and “Tighten Up” by Archie Bell and the Drells from Houston, Texas, but I will end this essay with two songs.  The first song is “Groovin’” by The Rascals.  With the soul-enriched harmonica, this was the perfect song for cruising through Memorial Park on a Sunday afternoon.  The last song I will talk about is probably the greatest summertime  record ever produced.  “All Day Music” by WAR was infectious.  You couldn’t just play it once or twice; it had to be played over and over again.  And every time it played, something different would grab your soul whether it was Papa Dee Allen on the congas, Lee Oskar on the harmonica, or Lonnie Jordan on the organ.

During Black Music Month, I encourage you to seek out and listen to some of that Soul Music you probably forgot about.  It’s guaranteed to make you smile.

S. A. Miller

6.20.2023

For more Soul Music you probably forgot about go to:    https://www.youtube.com/@SoulVisionTV/videos

Soul Perspectives is written by S. A. Miller, a motion picture producer and director, author, and educator who has been writing commentary on Social, Economic, Educational, and Political topics for over forty years.

Black Woman Excellence- Recognize, Acknowledge, Appreciate

We are living is a unique time in the United States.  Over the last ten years or so, we have witnessed what I call Black Woman Excellence (BWE) .  While we extol the emergence of Black Girl Magic, Black women are affecting U. S. society in so many ways, that it has gone beyond magic and has become a Profile in Excellence.

Black women are excelling in so many areas including Science and Technology, the Judiciary, Government and Politics, Entrepreneurship, Corporate Governance, Education, Entertainment, Medicine, Sports, and many, many more.

One example of BWE in technology and entrepreneurship is Patrice Banks, the founder of Girls Auto Clinic in Philadelphia.  Ms Banks took her knowledge of automotive technology and started GAC, a full-service repair shop designed to empower women in the care and repair of their cars.

When we consider BWE in science and medicine, we have to look no further than Dr. Kizzmekia S. Corbett, Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases.  She is credited with leading the team of scientist at the NIH that developed the COVID-19 vaccine in 2020.  No doubt her work saved thousands of lives.

Over the last several years there has been no greater manifestation of BWE than in politics.  More Black women are active in politics than ever before, which has put more Black women in positions of governance power at all levels of government.  We start with Vice-President Kamala Harris, then consider U. S. representatives like Ayanna Presley of Massachusetts and Cori Bush of Missouri.  Karen Bass is the mayor of Los Angeles, Muriel Bowser is the mayor of Washington, D. C., and Tishaura Jones is the mayor of St. Louis.  We should also remember the impact Black women had on recent elections in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.  Life would look a lot different in those places had it not been for BWE.

BWE has always been evident when it comes to educating our children.  Black women teachers have always been adept at educating, while simultaneously, nurturing students from pre-school through college.  In recent years we have seen a greater impact on higher education as more Black women serve as the heads of their universities.  Dr. Claudine Gay was recently named president of Harvard University, becoming the first Black Woman president for the university.  We also have more Black women presidents at HBCUs than at any other time in history.  Consider the following HBCU presidents: Dr. Brenda Allen, Lincoln University PA; Dr. Felicia Nave, Alcorn State University; Dr. Javuane Adams-Gatson; Norfolk State University; Dr. Helene Gayle Spelman College; Dr. Kimberly Ballard Washington, J. D., Savannah State University; Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, Tennessee State University; Dr. Charlotte Morris, Tuskegee University.  These Black women educators, and countless others are making sure this generation gets a comprehensive and inclusive education.

The history of Black women in professional sports has been well documented over the years.  Most of the discussion has revolved around outstanding athletic performance, but today, Black women are exhibiting excellence in other lanes of professional sports.  For instance, Nicole Lynn became the first Black woman sports agent to represent a player in the Super Bowl.  Sandra Douglass Morgan of the Las Vegas Raiders is the first Black woman to be named president of a National Football League team.  Maia Chaka became the first Black woman to officiate a National Football League regular season game.  Then there are Simone Jelks and Danielle Scot who are currently refereeing in the National Basketball Association.  This discussion also needs to include Tara August who recently served as SVP of Talent Relations for Turner Sports.

The history of Black Woman Excellence in the entertainment industry is both rich and long.  Black women have always been outstanding performers whether it be singing, acting, or dancing.  We are used to the excellence that Angela Bassett and Viola Davis bring in front of the camera, but today we have more Black women behind the camera.  Consider writer/producer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood who directed “The Woman King”.  There is Ava DuVernay, the creator and producer of the television show “Queen Sugar”.  She used her power to hire women to direct all 88 episodes of the show.  We must also recognize women like Kerry Washington and Robin Thede who not only act, but also write and produce their own projects.  Besides more Black women writers, directors, and producers, we also have more Black women Talent Agents representing some of the most recognized stars in Hollywood.  And Kim Godwin resides in the C-Suite at ABC News as its president.

Finally, let’s look at Black Woman Excellence in the judiciary, and to do that we start with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman confirmed to the U.S Supreme Court.  The vitriol Justice Brown Jackson was subjected to during her confirmation is well documented, yet this woman of excellence stood firm and endured.  There is Judge Dana Douglas who serves on the 5th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, and Doris Pryor who serves on the 7th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Indiana.  We should also recognize the work of state legal officials like Attorney General Letttia James in Georgia, and District Attorney Fani Wills in New York.  And Black women are leading several police departments across the country including Chief Keechant Sewell in New York, Chief Harvette Smith in North Mami Beach, and Commissioner Danielle Outlaw in Philadelphia.

By no means is this essay an exhaustive discussion of Black Woman Excellence. On the contrary, this essay only scratches the surface.  Black women have always been the guiding light, and their historical significance to the development of this country has always been understood, but this is a different day.  Black women have been Divinely destined to lead this country and we need to recognize and acknowledge that fact.  More importantly, we need to appreciate all that Black women do for us.  Yes, we know Black women have always led our homes, our churches, and our neighborhoods, but that leadership has progressed well beyond those places.  Black women are exhibiting excellence in all areas of our society, and we are all the better for it.  As long as Black Woman Excellence continues to guide us, we’re going to be just fine.

S. A. Miller

3.31.2023

Soul Perspectives is written by S. A. Miller, a movie producer, director, author, and educator who has been writing commentary on Social, Economic, Educational, and Political topics for over forty years.