Throughout February, we're speaking with SPS high school students who are engaged in their school’s Black Student Union to learn why they're involved and why it's important for our community to celebrate Black history.
At Rogers High School, we sat down with Akeelis Muhammad (left) and Malachi Ford (right), both seniors.
What does BSU mean to each of you? Why are you involved?
Malachi: It connects people on all levels, from people of color to those who aren't. It helps others understand where we come from and what we’re fighting for. What our agenda is, to push forward and make the world a more inclusive place for all. It’s a community that brings people together and serves as a source of inspiration.
Akeelis: For me, BSU is something that unites us. I love my people. I love spaces where we celebrate Black people. As president [of BSU and ASB], it’s a really fun and meaningful environment to be in and something I care about deeply.
What aspect of your cultural heritage or Black identity are you most proud of?
M: Growing up in a predominantly white space, I didn’t really understand my culture or heritage. That’s why I think BSU is so important. We’re learning where we come from and to appreciate what people before us fought for. I cherish every part of me, everyone who came before me, and everyone who helped shape the person I am today.
A: Is this a competition? [laughs] I don’t know, he’s so well-spoken. For me, it’s about the history, the background, and being educated on all of it. It speaks to me on a deep level. It’s hard to put into words, but understanding our history and struggles. It’s a beautiful thing, it helps me.
Tell me more. How does it help you to know more about your culture?
A: The discussions that we have, to come into meetings with our allies and other people of color, the discussions we have that help us reflect and gain knowledge.
M: Yeah, and it’s also important that we have tough conversations, conversations that don’t happen in other spaces. We’re able to talk with each other and communicate with each other being real and spreading awareness about what’s going on in the world.
A: And during our meetings, some people don’t know what’s going on, especially with things like DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] initiatives being removed. I think a lot of kids didn’t know about that until BSU. It’s not a topic in classes, not being taught around school.
What do you most want people who aren’t Black in your school, community, or the world at large to understand about Black youth?
A: Personally, I want people to know that we aren’t dangerous. We aren’t whatever negative stereotype people might have. What we do have is a beautiful culture and a rich history. We want to share that with people and be recognized for it. It’s not about getting special treatment, it’s about educating others so they can appreciate what we bring to the world.
M: Young Blackness is excellence. There’s a stigma that young Black people don’t have a way to be excellent, but we do. The message we’re pushing is that we hold ourselves to a high standard, and we should be able to get the same opportunities as everyone else.
In your view, why is it important for people in the U.S. to honor February as Black History Month?
A: Even though slavery isn’t happening anymore, people should still be aware of what our race has been through. Black History Month is a time to honor and appreciate everything we’ve created in this world. When it’s not celebrated, it feels like even our ancestors are being pushed away or pushed to the side. It can really affect younger generations because they aren’t getting the knowledge that’s needed about their history.
M: Yeah, it spreads awareness. It highlights the adversity Black people have had to go through, and even though we’re still facing it today we’re still here. It makes us feel appreciated. People are seeing what we went through and how we had to fight to be in the spaces we’re in. It’s not just for us, it’s for the people that came before us.