Between a LEGO sculpture of the Statue of Liberty and a 3D Kobe Bryant lamp, a poster hangs above my desk that I look at whenever I experience any form of writer's block or need a few seconds to think about what I have just written.
The poster features a man colored in a spectrum of red, white, blue, and black. He is looking off into the distance with an expression of courage and determination on his face, and there is a four-letter word underneath his profile: HOPE.
I first heard about Mr. Obama when I was nine years old, and I can tell you that I don't even remember seeing a picture or hearing about George W. Bush until a little after the 2008 election. (1) Obama was my first real president and has always been one of the most--if not the most--prominent political figures in my life.
He has always been a beacon of light to my family and me, mainly when my mom and I spend time alone in the kitchen drinking tea out of our union jack mugs (2) as we often find ourselves looking to him for inspiration, laughter, and, of course, hope. Even as I grow older and become more influenced by more politicians and future ideas, one thing will remain constant--he will always be my favorite president.
But then again, when I think about the time I've spent looking up to Obama, I must admit that I don't think I've ever really thought too much about the people that got him to where he is. No, I'm not talking about his mother, Michelle, or Malia and Sasha... (3) While they no doubt got Obama to where he is today, I want to take some time to focus on all the Black Americans who went through some of America's worst eras but, through their heroics and courage, made not only Obama who he is today but America who we are today.
I can easily blame the average national curriculum for the insufficiency of what is taught about the Black experience in America from slavery to segregation to civil rights, and just how damaging being untruthful about these subjects can be, but I must also put some blame on myself.
I have known about the school system's problems, yet I've never really taken the initiative to learn about the things I knew I wasn't being taught. I haven't been trying hard enough to look at how Black Americans were and are still being treated unequally to this day, how individual decisions we make can contribute to the constantly enduring issues of unequal living environments, voter suppression, and police brutality in America.
It is February 2021... the first Black History Month we have had in America since the racial tensions felt throughout 2020. I find myself at the helm of a website where one week ago I pledged to be honest and truthful while taking a look at all sides of a story while also seeking to educate myself and trying to ensure that this education reaches people across the nation.
So… how exactly do I execute this properly? How exactly can I make this work? To be completely honest, I’m not entirely sure if the topics my team and I have decided to discuss this month will add any real value, but I know that this is the right way for me to start.
I come from a culturally diverse family. At the core of it all, I’m a multiracial American, half-Italian, half-Mexican. And while I have had my run-ins in the past with racism and discrimination, I’ve been able to live a life of many privileges not felt by so many. I grew up with a name that doesn’t sound too diverse or ethnic, and I’ve always had light skin.
I’ve never had to think twice about an employer looking at my resume and the possibility of them rejecting it because of my name, and I’ve never had to worry about a police officer treating me harshly or looking at me suspiciously when I was doing nothing to warrant such reactions. So, based on all this and based on my mission to help create a more accepting culture, it’s about time I took it upon myself to do this. I believe that this is a decision that I will come to love as I work on the essays for this month and continue to do so many, many years ahead.
Let’s go over this month’s posts…
Usually, on The Vinny Demme Portfolio, there would be two posts per week--one post on Monday and one post on Thursday. Since it is Black History Month, I will publish on this website almost four times per week, a practice that will always occur when we celebrate certain “themed” months here at The Vinny Demme Portfolio.
Week One (02/02/21 - 02/06/21)
During the first week, readers will learn about courageous abolitionist icons and leaders. On Wednesday, we will cover the life of Sojourner Truth, a woman who embraced her love for God while speaking against slavery and racial injustice. On Thursday, we will cover the life of Frederick Douglass, a man who, with all odds against him, learned how to read and write and used his new abilities to write and speak against slavery. On Saturday, we will learn about Harriet Tubman’s story as a woman who became known as one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad and even became a soldier during the Civil War.
Week Two (02/07/21 - 02/13/21)
In the second week, readers will be introduced to civil rights movement icons. On Monday, readers will learn about a dangerous denial plaguing our country today--climate change denial. This essay will answer questions like: How is climate change denial affecting minority and Indigenous populations? How have those populations been fighting back? On Wednesday, we will learn about Rosa Parks’s life and how she went from a private investigator to a woman who dismantled an entire bus system as well as how these things affected the rest of her life. On Thursday, we will learn about the Little Rock Nine, a group of courageous Black students who went to a formerly segregated school and stayed no matter what abuse was thrown their way. On Saturday, we will learn about Malcolm X, one of the most iconic civil rights leaders, and how specific methods for fighting for what’s right may disrupt the overall message.
Week Three (02/14/21 - 02/20/21)
In the third week, readers will face voter fraud’s reality and how that lie has heavily overshadowed a major problem today--voter suppression--on Monday. On Wednesday and Thursday, readers will be treated to essays about the lives of two of the most historic civil rights leaders, John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr.
Week Four (02/21/21 - 02/28/21)
In week four, readers will learn about one of the most challenging topics known to America--police brutality and the fact that the deaths of people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are nothing surprising. On Wednesday, we will learn about Stacey Abrams, one of the most influential Black politicians to date. On Thursday, we will learn about Barack Obama and the impact he will forever have on our nation. On Saturday, I will come back to you just like this but with a new, more educated understanding of Black History Month and why it’s important to celebrate.
At the moment I am writing this, I have just finished connecting the stories of Frederick Douglass using his free time to learn how to read and write on his own to how unequally Black youth are treated today in terms of systematic inequality and implicit bias that can lead them to live in struggling neighborhoods and keep them from being able to reach educational opportunities fully. (4)
I have already had a great time learning about a few other Black abolitionists and have been able to find even more connections between them and the enduring problems with the American education system. The thing is, I believe that we can celebrate Black History Month by looking to icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis, of course, but we can also take time to see how Black Americans are treated today and be honest with ourselves to further promote equity and racial justice.
I must admit that even with this loaded schedule, I don’t think I’ll end up reaching the full potential I can. And to me, that’s okay. It will give me even more opportunities to learn and study to understand better the many hardships that many Black Americans still face to this day.
So with that, I hope you’ll enjoy Black History Month 2021 here at The Vinny Demme Portfolio. I’m excited to have you with me on this journey of education and better understanding.
Yours truly,
Vinny Demme
Footnotes
This video is probably the first time I ever saw George W. Bush
My mother grew up wishing she was part of the royal family, and thus there are tons of English things in our house. The irony is, almost every time I write about American history and study American politics, I'm drinking English Breakfast/Afternoon tea out of a Union Jack mug. My life has also had influences like The Beatles, New Wave 80's bands -- I'm one of the few 21-year-olds in Sioux Falls, SD that know who Richard Blade is--, I love Harry Potter (check out the house emblems on the homepage), and I've already decided that if I were to ever run for President, I'd probably move to London, England
...and Sonny & Bo of course
Timing @ TVDP is advanced... in fact, by the time you read this, I'll be about 80% finished with all of February's posts
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