Reflecting on impactful historical moments during Black History Month
February is Black History Month, a time to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions made by Black heroes throughout history.
It’s a time to uplift voices, hear and understand Black stories and reflect on how moments in history made a difference in our culture and lives today.
In celebration of Black History Month, United Way of Central Indiana asked teammates to share a moment in history that has been influential in their life.
Belinda Drake
program manager of Sector Support
Historical moment: On March 3, 2022, Dawn Staley made history after leading her South Carolina Gamecocks to a 64-49 victory over the University of Connecticut. With the win, Staley became the first Black woman to win two NCAA basketball titles as a head coach.
“Witnessing Dawn Staley coach as her true authentic self and win inspires me daily to show up as my full authentic self in all that I do at work and in the community,” Drake said. “She helps me believe that Black women everywhere are leading and winning.”
Jeffrey Wilson
operations associate
Historical moment: “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint” speech by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Watching the video of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. giving that speech encouraged me to move on through rough and not-so-good times” Wilson said. “I continue to strive to be the best I can at my job regardless of what’s going on around me and my capacity. That speech reminds me to continue to treat people with dignity and respect.”
Brandi Allen
fundraising and engagement project specialist
Historical moment: President Barack Obama’s 2009 Inauguration
“Witnessing President Obama's inauguration was influential to me for so many reasons. It was Black history that I could share with my children and generations to come,” Allen said. “I wasn't just reading about a Black history moment, but I was living it!”
Ryan Johnson
engagement senior manager
Historical moment: The death of Michael Brown
“This was an extremely influential moment in my life and my career. The event occurred when I was working for a nonprofit in St. Louis, and Michael Brown's death occurred about 20 minutes from my office,” Johnson said. “For the first time in my life, it became real what systemic barriers our neighbors of color face and opened my eyes to just how uneducated I was about my privilege. This set me on a journey of self-discovery and education I continue today.”
Vivien Carter
manager of corporate engagement
Historical moment: Amanda Gorman reading the inauguration poem, “The Hill We Climb” and being named the first National Youth Poet Laureate
“This influenced me because she was named the first National Youth Poet Laureate despite challenges as a child with a speech impediment and processing disorder,” Carter said. “She persevered, followed her dreams and delivered an incomparable poem in front of the entire nation, which had a powerful call to action of hope, unity, healing and resilience.”
Abbi Garvey
volunteer engagement senior manager
Historical moment: Voting for Barack Obama for my first presidential election
“I was lucky enough that the first presidential election I was old enough to vote gave me the opportunity to vote for the first Black president,” Garvey said. “I was in college, and he made a special visit to IU speaking at Assembly Hall and even going to Nick's English Hut during Little 500. It moved me because he was the first president who made me truly believe in the ‘change we can believe in’ and ‘yes we can’ for young people and marginalized individuals. I will never forget skipping class to watch the inauguration and watching Michelle sparkle in her beautiful gold dress as she held the same bible Lincoln used for Barack to be sworn in and later in the evening at the ball dancing to ‘At Last’ by Etta James with Beyonce singing. Pure magic and hearts full of hope for the future.”
Ebony Burson
talent management senior manager
Historical moment: The sit-ins
“Another way students contributed to the Civil Rights Movement was by conducting sit-ins across America. The sit-ins started in Greensboro, North Carolina, where a group of students sat down at a Whites-only lunch counter and calmly refused to leave after being denied service,” Burson said. “This moved me because it showed the strength of our youth and why their voices matter. Often the youth are dismissed or their opinions minimized. It made me want to be vocal and stand up for myself in certain situations when I was in my late teens and early 20s. Their bravery was truly inspiring to me then as well as now.”
Jake Roesler
CRM database senior administrator
Historical moment: Tragic deaths in recent years of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd and Tyre Nichols, and the creation/evolution of the Black Lives Matter movement
“In addition to the heartbreak, these events have really shown the power of technology and social media in the form of activism and advocacy, and how it can charge change,” Roesler said.
Jeff Iwamuro
manager of collections and financial analytics
Historical moment: The 2008 election and Barack Obama winning the presidency
“This was the first presidential election I was eligible to vote in. Having Obama win showed that America would allow those of the minority to have a voice and impact, even at the highest level,” Iwamuro said. “While it has not been easy since, it's a start and others continue to move forward.”