Magic in them
Program empowers black girls
During the month of February, the nation celebrates Black History Month and honors those individuals who have illuminated a path forward. Sadly, the history of the South boasts very few black female leaders due in large part to ongoing exclusion and age- old beliefs along race and gender lines. In fact, it was only this year that Pine Bluff elected its first black female mayor.
We created Students Leading and Advocating for Youth, or SLAY, to ensure that she is not the last. SLAY’s mission is to build young black female leaders through empowerment and leadership development. As teachers, we’ve observed too many of our students experiencing doubt and frustration as they pursue their goals. SLAY shines a light for the dreams of these young women.
As Teach For America corps members and classroom leaders who are committed to making sure students growing up in the Delta have access to the same quality of education and their more affluent counterparts, it’s clear to us that many of our brilliant black female students at school would benefit from more exposure to role models and mentors. We look forward to SLAY each week where we have a chance to interact positively with 15 to 20 young black women who lead and advocate for others in their community.
It’s incredibly meaningful to teach and mentor a group of young students and give them a voice in a system that often renders them silent.
The best part about our journey in launching SLAY is watching these young women find their voice. From the very beginning, we wanted to gather a diverse group of students. Some were quieter, while others were outspoken. Some were honor roll students, while others needed academic support. We envisioned a space where our girls would inspire each other. We imagined a sisterhood.
During our first meeting, one member described herself as being shy. She did not like talking in front of a lot of people, especially people she did not know. However, within a few weeks she volunteered to be a part of an event SLAY hosted at which Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the first black female surgeon general of the United States, spoke to the Pine Bluff community. She proudly and confidently introduced Dr. Elders and showed everyone, especially herself, that she does not have to be afraid to use her own voice.
Another student joined SLAY because she was unsure of her future aspirations. Over the last few months we’ve watched her create goals. After visiting universities in Arkansas and Tennessee, she now aspires to major in journalism.
Our goal is not just to empower our girls; we also want to equip them with the necessary tools to be effective leaders. Because of SLAY, these young women now have resumes that will help open doors to their future endeavors.
They have evaluated their own values and attributes that make them unique leaders. They actively develop solutions to problems that women face in their community. Most importantly, they interact with leaders who are women of color on a consistent basis. SLAY gives these students opportunities that are often taken away from them due to systemic barriers, and we are grateful that we get to be a part of these experiences.
We believe in our students and know they will leave their mark on their communities and the nation. Whether we are having a heartfelt discussion about how black women are affected by domestic and sexual violence, or volunteering at a CASA ( Court Appointed Special Advocate) marathon, our girls are growing. They are finding their voice.
During Black History Month and throughout the year, we focus on gathering inspiration from the past to tackle the issues of today. In a world where many of our girls are told they have no value, it is our hope that through SLAY, our girls discover what black- girl magic really is.