What Does Black History Month Mean to You?

The work of providing ALL Californians with the opportunity to have a good life, live in sustainable communities and enjoy the fruits of social, economic, and environmental is ongoing. As we focus on how best to share our values, serve our members, and achieve our objectives, our celebration of Black History Month continues with a final series of member testimonials.

Thank you for all of your insightful and heartfelt contributions.

As an African-American leader, I feel responsible for the inheritance of Black History that was left to me and to the world. I make every effort to be a positive contributor and narrator of it. It inspires me and others to strive for excellence. Black History is a rich history of culture, resilience and persistence. I wish people could recognize Black History occurs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, not just in February. Only in February am I asked what Black History means to me. To me, Black History means remembering the past, to be steadfast in the present, so I can shape the future.

Karen Jefferies
Bargaining Unit 4 Chair

Black History Month is a history lesson. It’s an opportunity to remember where we’ve been, reflect on where we are, and access how much further we have to go. Some people say that we’ve done enough and that the past is the past, but if we don’t look back and see where we’ve been, we have no idea how to keep what we’ve gained.

Focusing on what we’re doing today goes back to education. If you know your history, you know we don’t just want to maintain the status quo, because that’s how things are kept as they are. The more we give to those around us, the more we gain. And if we do it right—if we treat black people with dignity and respect—it’s not just black people that benefit, it’s ALL of us.

Richard Turner
President DLC 741

Black History month is always special, but it is even more so this year because of the accomplishments of Kamala Harris. 

Eugene Record
Chief Steward DLC 703, BU 1