Event inspires women of color to embrace culture
Entering a field where very few women tread, Beverly Bond admitted to being a lifelong introvert.
‘It took some time to find my voice in social justice work,’ she said.
As the 2012 national honoree and keynote speaker at the 22nd annual Tribute to the African-American Woman, Bond said she saw a challenge to stand up for women of color.
She said she gained the courage to speak up for others when she recognized Tupac using his own voice to stand up for black women in the song ‘Keep Ya Head Up.’
‘The need for me to speak became bigger than my fear,’ said Bond, who recently celebrated her 12th anniversary in the music industry.
Bond, a premier disc jockey and founder of Black Girls Rock! Inc., a nonprofit youth empowerment mentoring organization for black girls ages 12 to 17, spoke Sunday in the Panasci Lounge in the Schine Student Center.
The event, hosted by Syracuse University’s chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc., celebrated women of color by sharing their stories and embracing their culture through the theme ‘beautiful through our own stories.’
Members of the club, award honorees, faculty and students attended the event, attracting approximately 40 people.
DeVonna Johnson, the vice president of the SU chapter of the club, said she was excited to attend the event.
‘Beverly is really a pioneer,’ Johnson said. ‘She’s a celebrity and a woman of color who stands at the forefront of what’s important.’
Johnson also praised the organization for its personal guidance and help.
‘Being a part of NANBPWC is a huge time commitment, but it’s given me great leadership skills and friends,’ she said.
Along with keynote speaker Bond, the Sojourner Truth awards for students, faculty and community members were presented at the event.
Kishauna Soljour, a junior television, radio and film and African-American studies major, received the student award for her numerous works in social and cultural issues.
Christabel Sheldon, the director of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, was honored with the faculty award.
‘I am blessed because I love what I do,’ she said.
Barbara Grimes was given the community award for her work as the director of the Wilson Park Community Center. Accepting the award, Grimes chirped the center’s motto: ‘We sit down and rest; we never lay down and quit.’
Having discussed cultural issues with black women, stereotypes and the ability to find strengths in the music industry as a female and woman of color, Bond finished by emphasizing the importance of every woman recognizing beauty in herself.
‘We are talented, gorgeous, smart – but when all of the messages in magazines, television shows, videos tell you, you are not good enough or as important as others, then you become blind to who you really are,’ Bond said. ‘And it can scar your mind.’
Published on March 25, 2012 at 12:00 pm
