February is Black Heritage Month
In alignment with the 51在线鈥檚 research commitment to global and national security, the USF Institute on Black Life (IBL) co-hosted its annual conference with the USF Office of Veteran Success to explore this year鈥檚 theme: 鈥淏lack Life and the Military.鈥�
鈥淸The IBL鈥檚] mission is to serve as a resource center on the history and culture of the Black experience in the U.S., in the Caribbean and Latin America and the African continent,鈥� 鈥痵aid鈥�Dr. Fenda A. Akiwumi, director of IBL and professor in the鈥�School of Geosciences.
The conference celebrated the historic role of the military in Black life, and highlighted the successes and challenges faced by Black service members.
This flagship conference, which is hosted each year by the IBL, was held on Feb. 1 at the Marshall Student Center.
Frank Bell, Jr., national historian for the National 9th &10th (Horse) Cavalry Association and executive board member of the Woods & Wanton Chapter, Inc. of the Calvary Association in Tampa, Fla., and Leslie C. Smith, U.S. Army retired lieutenant general, served as this year鈥檚 panel of honor guest speakers.
Derek Moore, director of USF鈥檚 Joint Military Leadership Center, moderated the discussion with Bell and Smith as they shared their personal experiences in serving in the military.
鈥淚鈥檝e been [to] many places. Tough places, tough locations [with] people who look like me, people who didn鈥檛 look like me, people who had backgrounds like me, people from the north, south, east, and west; we all came together to accomplish the mission that the country wanted us to do鈥攖o support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies. That gets ingrained in who you are and becomes a way of life,鈥� Smith said.
When asked what they want others to know about serving in the military, the two both touched upon the growth that it provided to them throughout their careers.
鈥淥pportunity. It hits you in the face. You go to basic training, they tear you down and build you back up, but the opportunity is there,鈥� Bell explained.
鈥淭he military gives you the ability to accelerate your life,鈥� Smith said.
Throughout the day-long conference, speakers and panelists also delved into the historical role of the military in Black life, shared insights on professional development successes and opportunities, discussed challenges related to racial injustice, health, and mental well-being, and explored issues of upward mobility.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 conference is a prime example of the collaborative spirit within our university and supports our university鈥檚 strategic plan. It is a gathering of diverse areas of expertise that are converging to share their experiences and the commitment that is demonstrated by all the participants here,鈥� Dr. Prasant Mohapatra, provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs for USF, said during his opening remarks. 鈥淚'm genuinely grateful for those commitments that all the participants are demonstrating, and also those who are willing to disseminate beyond the boundaries of our campus into our communities; we should continue to march forward in those directions to reach the widest possible audience that we can reach.鈥�
鈥淥ver the last three decades IBL has been a critical component of advancing research for the college, but also for the entire university, in understanding Blackness and anti-Black racism, cultural heritage preservation, and student success through educating and mentoring,鈥� CAS Interim Dean Magali Michael said. 鈥淚t also actively promotes and facilitates education, research and training, not just within USF, but within the entire community as it tries to bridge the gap between the university and the community.
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To learn more about the IBL and future events, please visit the鈥�IBL website.