Fayetteville Tech student-athletes share what Black History Month means to them.
“Black History Month is about what our ancestors and people of the past have done us to get us this far. They made sacrifices to give us opportunities that they weren’t able to have back then and shaped what we have today.” Kristen Woods, FTCC Volleyball
“Black History Month is a period of celebrating and rejoicing, as well as saying thanks to those African Americans who paved the way for us and gave us hope in this world. Black History Month is a time to be reminded of what it truly means to be African American.” – Alea’ah Graham, FTCC Softball
“Although I appreciate having time dedicated to expound on our history, Black History Month is merely when Black culture is put on display like an exhibit when our time is up. For that reason, Black History shouldn’t be bundled into just one month. We have so much history that’s untold, history that’s never been experienced, even by our own culture that we can’t just settle for sharing our history for only one month out of the year.” (cont.), Troy Shaw, FTCC Women’s Basketball
“Black people are true innovators and are responsible for creating major products and resources that we use today. It’s important that we teach and share our history, especially among ourselves, so that our history won’t be erased. Black History Month is a good introduction for the discussion but shouldn’t be where the conversation ends. Black history is our history, and if we don’t share it, then who will?” – Troy Shaw, FTCC Women’s Basketball
“This is a month to celebrate and give thanks for everything that our ancestors have done for us. They sacrificed so much for us to be able to do all of the things that we can do now.” – Donte Johnson, FTCC Men’s Basketball
“I’m glad Black History is being acknowledged and having a light shined on it. So much of our history has been hidden. Now kids are learning about parts of our history that I didn’t learn about as a kid. I learned a lot in an African American Studies class that I wasn’t taught in school.” – Octavis Faison, FTCC Baseball