Personal Profile: Mrs. Howard

Many of us know Mrs.Howard for helping us with math equations and science problems, but how much else do we know about her? She’s what you call an activist. Mrs.Howard caught my interest just by the way she carries herself, even with what she’s been through. She was a Freedom of Choice Student in high school and graduated from William & Mary. Even though these are great accomplishments, her struggles are what brought her here, to us. She was discriminated against because of her race, tormented and disrespected, but that didn’t stop her. With the Black Lives Matter Movement rising, I thought I should ask her some questions.

I sat down to have a conversation with her, and here’s what she had to say.

Q: How do you feel about the social injustice of African Americans?

Mrs.H: African Americans bring it on themselves, especially the youth

Q: Have you experienced any misconduct because of your race?  When? How did this make you feel?

Mrs.H:  In younger years. While I was in high school it was about 16 African American students within the high school. I was called names such as “blackie” and other but this only made me stronger. It made me compete with them and it made them respect me.

Q: What is your opinion on the Black Lives Matter Movement? Do you have any Involvement with the BLM movement?

Mrs.H: I believe in the moment; I think that police officers should improve their training. but we as black people are targets.

Q: What do you feel influences this movement? Are they positive or negative influences?

Mrs.H:  More positive, the movement is coming from a good place. It’s just you can have anything positive and someone bring negativity. The music that kids listen too for instance all the “Gangster Rap”.

Q: Do you feel this effects everyone or just African Americans?

Mrs.H: effects all of us. Everything negative affects us as much as everyone else.

Q: What does the term “Police Brutality” mean to you? Do you think the problem with police is as bad as it was during segregation?

Mrs.H: I don’t believe they set out to be brutal but going over this whole “I was afraid so I shot” excuse.  Not as bad because now it’s people on the force that don’t belong. They use the badge as an excuse. More settle than it used to be.

Q: Is police brutality just outright racism? Or do you believe it’s deeper than just race?

Mrs.H: Yes, it’s a cover up to do what they want to do?

Q: How do you address the “Black Lives matter’’ movement beyond the viewpoint of police brutality and criminal justice?

Mrs.H:  Be the best person we can be. Because all lives matter. Treat others the way they want to be treated shouldn’t have to work for equality.

Q: Do schools, communities, and official offers play a role in social injustice?

Mrs.H:  They do to an extent. Kids act so ugly because they don’t have many around that look like them so we should respect each other. We should stop being so judgement.

Q: What can you do as a person to improve discrimination in your community? How do you plan to make these efforts happen?

Mrs.H: Be involved, go out with kids and socialize get to know them on a personal level.

Doing this interview with her really inspired me. She didn’t say what we wanted to hear, but what needed to be heard, which should push us forward. We all have rights and we all deserve them equally.