Program Success 31 Black HIstory 2023
As a DEI leader I carry the same dedication for my family history to the dedication I commit to imparting Black history as part of my corporate DEI mission and vision . And as a DEI leader I carry the same devotion for every dimension of diversity in the organization as I do for our Black employees . The intersectionality of these dimensions is what highlights the connectivity within BHM .
For example , political activist , author and philosopher , Dr . Angela Y . Davis tell us , “ When Black women stand up - as they did during the Montgomery Bus Boycott , as they did during the Black liberation era — earth-shaking changes occur .”
Tammy Baldwin , the first openly gay woman elected to the U . S . House and Senate attests , “ All of us who are openly gay are living and writing the history of our movement . We are no more — and no less — heroic than the suffragists and abolitionists of the 19th century ; and the labor organizers , Freedom Riders , Stonewall demonstrators , and environmentalists of the 20th century .”
Political Activist , Author and Philosopher , Dr . Angela Y . Davis tell us , “ When Black women stand up -as they did during the Montgomery Bus Boycott , as they did during the Black liberation era - earth-shaking changes occur .”
I have always admired the body of work and social activism of my fellow southerner and actor Morgan Freeman ; however , I have a different perspective from his take on BHM . He once said , “ I don ’ t want a Black History Month . Black history is American history .”
Well , I want Black History Month to be around for my granddaughter and the generations to follow , AND I want U . S . history to accurately educate all students on the good , bad , and the ugly . A true version of U . S history will not homogenize the facts , but inclusive U . S . history will unapologetically present our blemishes as well as our virtues .
Cal Jackson is known in the Diversity & Inclusion ( D & I ) community for his design , development , and delivery of engaging and thought-provoking cultural competence workshops . Topics include bias , generations , gender , lookism , selfawareness , classism and enhancing the cultural competence of leaders .
Cal has experience building safe containers for courageous conversations in Fortune 500 companies , academia , and civic forums .
He has received various accolades for his work from Black Enterprise Magazine , Florida Bar , Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber , Clearwater Bar , FL Blue , Florida Diversity Council , Jacksonville Business Journal and Leadership Jacksonville .
Cal presently serves on the board of directors for Connecting Cultures for Peace .