Black History Month Testimonial by Kevin Carmichael

Black History Month is a chance to remember and teach pride and heritage to a younger generation that didn’t have to suffer the atrocities but to remember those who paved the way. They didn’t have to pick cotton in the heat of the day for little or no wages, while their white counterparts received an education. They didn’t have to eat in separate places or having to fear for their life because minorities wanted to be treated as equals with the same rights as white Americans.

Black History Month is a change to show every generation how to grow their dreams, how to succeed from oppression and how to leave a positive legacy in this life. Not just to remember yesteryear tragedies but to shed a light, provide a light and be a light to those who don’t have the encouragement to fight and win. To show that through love, generosity, charity and servant leadership you can accomplish every goal without having to trample on your neighbors head

HGS is an organization that embraces diversity, pride, heritage and culture of the past, present and future. Being an Educated Black Male leader in this organization demonstrates to my kids, and the youth of this time that you can achieve your dreams. It proves that graduating from a Historical Black University is not a step below a major state university but equal to if not greater than. More importantly, it shows that if I don’t stop and keep going, not only can I taste freedom but I become of living symbol and beacon of freedom itself. I am glad to be an example of what hard work, determination and being true to oneself can lead to in this organization. Lastly, because HGS does value me, it breathes life into its core values of Integrity, Excellence and Inclusivity because that is who I am daily as we represent each other.