We should also celebrate those who influence us daily

Photo provided by Jai’Den Smith

Jaiden Smith
Managing Editor 

The month of February is notorious for the recognition and celebration of our historically relevant icons. Black History Month reminds us to set aside the time to reflect on how far we’ve come as a community and how much further we still need to go.

While it’s nearly impossible to give our historical figures enough credit for their centuries of efforts, activism, and progression, let’s shift our focus on the modern-day individuals who’ve also been a force in our life. Infamous or not, let’s appreciate the individuals who made the small everyday strides that still make all the difference. 

Whether it be your mother, a professor, a coach, there are influences in our life who’ve shaped and inspired our personal journeys. As a college student, it’s easy to admire those who’ve done the big and great things and give them the acknowledgement of why we’ve chosen the career paths we have.

But who has taken the responsibility of your tuition? Who has covered your plane ticket fees so you can travel in and out of state between your university and home? 

Who has shared their food stamps and allows you to take a break from your university’s cafe and snack on groceries of your choice? Who supported you through college when you were careless and needed a ride? Who kept you motivated when you didn’t know how much further you could get and was at the cusp of academic burnout? 

Even if it isn’t someone you know personally, who is the locally famous influencer you follow on social media who gives you a glimpse at the life you want to have? Who was the speaker at the conference you attended who gave you the one piece of advice that still rings between your ears till this day?

I challenge you to remain inspired and remain motivated by everyone around you. 

For me, it’s African-American journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones. Jones is an archived author. Most known for the “1619 Project” – a series covering the racial injustice found in the United States. 

I was first made familiar with her work my junior year of high school. 

My then AP English and Composition, Mrs. Sneed, wanted us to explore the project. Broken down over a span of maybe a month, each class session we covered a different part of the project. Whether it be text, an interview, or a short video. 

I remember falling in love with the project. It was so brave, so bold, so excellent. She exposed the modern-day forms of racism while connecting the causes to practices found in slavery.

Jones directly challenged the theory that racism no longer exists. She was faced with countless challenges and backlash but she continued with her research. Jones spoke to real local people, with real stories, and told them. 

In my eyes, Jones was the real-life Skeeter from “The Help”, one of my favorite films. I remember specifically she told the story of some black farmers facing adversity because they were granted the same loans and opportunities as white farmers- therefore impacting their income and overall success on their farm. 

Jones was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction series and titled the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter. Her series can be found on Hulu and the original book was New York Times Best Seller. 

According to her website: Nikolehannahjones.com, Jones is the founder of the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting at Morehouse College. She also has her hand in the education pot, founding the 1619 Freedom School in Waterloo, Iowa and a Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University. 

She’s a huge inspiration to me and I was even granted the opportunity to meet her at the Phyllis Wheatley Poetry Festival hosted on our very own campus. I appreciate the presence of forces such as her in the journalism world.

As an aspiring journalist myself, it’s important that these voices exist and pave the way for me, so that I can be just as brave, just as bold, and just as excellent.