Feb_2021_Newsletter

February is Black History Month By Monique Jones

February marks Black History Month, a tribute to African American men and women who have made significant contributions to our nation and the world in the fields of science, politics, law, education, sports, the arts, entertainment, and many other fields. Attitudes and perceptions influence our personal and professional relationships in subtle ways. Black History month offers a time to celebrate the remarkable achievements of African Americans who have contributed to our country and paved the way for new generations to follow in their foosteps. The bedrock of Black History is rooted in blood, sweat, tears, and faith: believing one day color would not matter. As early as the mid-1700’s, prominent African American mathematicians, musicians, scientist, engineers, poets, educators, inventors, and entertainers have used their talents and mediums to tell stories of racism, oppression, and dehumanization. Poets like Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and Nikki Giovanni contributed to a rich culture of art; hip-hop, R&B, rap, dance, and theatre. Educators and leaders likened to Nathaniel “Nat” Turner, paved the road for Mary Jane Patterson, Edward Alexander Bouchet, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., W.E. DuBois, Malcom X, Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson. The enslavement of one race to further the social and economic growth of another through humiliation, torture, dehumanization, and death is undeniably a apart of the history of African Americans, as is the story of triumphant and perseverance, achievement in the face of adversity. The message remains the same. We as a collective whole only benefit when “We” stop categorizing people by the color of their skin and to paraphrase Dr. King, judge people by the content of their character. Monique Jones is a social services practitioner III who serves on an internal committee that is focused on improving outcomes for all children and families.

DPSS NEWS

Dr. Dorothy Height: Blazing a trail for social work & equality

Dr. Dorothy Height was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1912, and was educated in the public schools of Rankin, Pennsylvania. Ms. Height was among the coalition of African American leaders who pushed civil rights to the center of the American political stage after World War II, and she was a key figure in the struggles for school desegregation, voting rights, employment opportunities and public accommodations in the 1950s and 1960s. Dr. Height was often times known as the “Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement.” President Barack Obama stated that “She never cared about who got the credit. What she cared about was the cause. The cause of justice, the cause of equality, the cause of opportunity, freedom’s cause.”

Sources: Washingtonpost.com, NASWFoundation.org

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