Our PowHERful Black History
PowHERful alumna Deshawna Henry consults her notes during her presentation at the Beyond School Hours Conference in New Orleans.
We’re surrounded every day with manifestations of the importance of Black history. Yet just one month a year, in February, we celebrate its importance. This February, PowHERful sent alumna Deshawna Henry to New Orleans to share a celebratory Black history message at a premier gathering of education practitioners and thought leaders.
At the Beyond School Hours Conference, Deshawna, a DevSecOps professional and engineer at IBM, delivered her perspective on the profound and often unrecognized impact that people of color have made on science and culture throughout history.
“Traditionally, when discussing Black history in school,” she told attendees, “there’s been a significant emphasis on the era of enslavement and the civil rights movement. While these periods are undeniably crucial, what is too often ignored are the innumerable contributions made to the world by African Americans and those from the African diaspora.” She encouraged us to delve into “the origins, the overlooked narratives, and the luminaries whose brilliance lights the path for generations to come.”
Deshawna quoted African historian Emmanuel Kulu, Jr., who, in a TEDx Talk, “reminds us that the history of the Black people didn't begin with the trans-Atlantic slave trade. There were ancient kings, queens, master builders, and scholars—innovators who first estimated pi for mathematical calculations, created the 365-day calendar, developed rudimentary clocks, and devised the first counting method.” Deshawna underscored how ancient Africans were pioneers in medical advances long before such practices were adopted in Europe. “From vaccinations to surgeries performed under antiseptic conditions, their contributions were groundbreaking.”
“Yet, how often do we hear these stories?” she asked. From trailblazing individuals like the self-made millionaire Madam C.J. Walker, who revolutionized African American hair care products and was known for her philanthropy, to Marie M. Daly, the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry in the U.S.; from Mamie Phipps Clark, known for her groundbreaking "doll studies" on racial bias, to the chief executive and tech engineer Lisa Gelobter, who has been involved in the invention of numerous critical web-based video technologies, African American women have found ways to excel and make an indelible contribution to our history.
Deshawna summarized, “Black history is rich with innovation, resilience, and unparalleled contributions to society. As we celebrate Black History Month, let's commit to recognizing and honoring this vast and diverse history all year round.” At PowHERful, we say Amen!