School choice will help African- American youth

With Black History Month underway, people all over the country are celebrating the contributions of courageous African- American leaders. There are countless heroes to be honored, but Harriet Tubman holds a special place in my heart.

Born into slavery about 1820, Tubman boldly escaped. But what she did next was even more heroic — she went back to save others. On more than a dozen clandestine missions, she rescued at least 70 slaves through the famed underground railroad.

Tubman’s legacy has been celebrated over the past year after she was announced as the first African American to be featured on U. S. currency. Her story resonates with me today as I serve in the Trump White House. I am proud to serve under a president who has made it clear that the forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no more, including — and I would argue especially — African Americans.

Education is the ultimate equalizer in our society. I say that from personal experience. My mother raised me in a housing project in Youngstown, Ohio, after my father was murdered when I was 7. I attended two historically black colleges, Central State University and Howard University. The educational opportunities I received opened up doors that otherwise would have been closed. I have been a successful businesswoman, professor, military chaplain and now senior aide to the president.

For far too many of our youth, the ZIP code they grow up in dictates whether or not they will have access to a quality education. These are the forgotten boys and girls of America, and it is well past time for someone — in the spirit of Harriet Tubman — to go back and lift them up. The Trump administration is working hard to do exactly that.

Parental choice in education is at the core of the president’s plan for urban renewal. His desire is for every disadvantaged child to have an opportunity to attend the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school of the parents’ choice. He believes this is the great civil rights issue of our time, and African Americans all over the country agree, as does our new secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.

Betsy is one of the country’s greatest advocates for children and families. She will empower parents and put the focus on what is best for our students.

The president has also pledged to ensure funding for historically black colleges and universities and to increase support for trade and vocational education, which will provide African- American students with the skills that lead to better jobs and higher wages.

For the sake of boys and girls all over our country who feel forgotten, the Trump administration is making every effort to not only celebrate the contributions of black leaders throughout our history, but also to provide opportunities to the African- American leaders of the future.