Dear Unity College Colleagues,
As we begin the month of February, we have many things to celebrate here at Unity College including our growing enrollment and making sound progress in providing access to a more diverse student body. I agree with the great Morgan Freeman when he said “Black history is American history,” but sometimes we, as a nation, forget that, so having a month dedicated to Black History is a helpful reminder.
As we here at Unity College continue to educate the next generation of environmental superheroes, it is important to recognize the legacies of the black Americans who were—and are—pioneers in their fields, and embody the philosophy of the Each one, Teach one – African proverb. They have truly made an impact on the environment through their research and advocacy, serving as inspiration for our work here at America’s Environmental College.
Every pioneer knows that you have to have the courage to start somewhere and move forward without a clear path. Some pioneers are more famous than others like George Washington Carver, the famous botanist credited with creating crop rotation as a means of replenishing the nutrients in soil, which had been depleted by years of planting the same crop over and over. He taught people which crops would best replenish the soil: sweet potatoes, soybeans and peanuts are the most famous. He also taught them how to use the crops for other things such as meals and products, creating more financial stability for the farmers.
To be a pioneer in biological research you need a passion for science and a place to conduct research. For many black scientists that place was (and is) the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This world-class research facility has hosted a long and distinguished list of black researchers since its founding.
One of those researchers was the 1993 recipient of the National Academy of Science’s Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb. Dr. Cobb is most famous for her work on melanin (skin pigment) and is credited with discovering the use of methotrexate as a treatment for cancer – something that is still used today. She was a researcher, faculty member, and dean at several colleges over her career, ultimately becoming the president of California State University, Fullerton, where she helped expand the science facilities and worked to encourage minorities to enter the field of science.
During the 1980s, Dr. Robert Bullard, the “Father of Environmental Justice,” did extensive research in the American South, finding clear evidence that there were more environmental hazards in black communities than in white ones – what we now refer to as environmental racism. He has authored numerous books on the topic and continues to bring awareness to the issue through his work.
Conservation law enforcement is a field often overlooked by people of color, but Shelton Johnson is working to change that. He joined the National Park Service as a Park Ranger in 1987 and currently works at Yosemite National Park. Throughout his career he has worked tirelessly to bring more minorities to our national parks. He has appeared on Oprah as well as in the Ken Burns documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”
There are so many great black Americans who deserve to be celebrated during Black History Month – and all year long. The ones I have shared with you are only a small sample, but they have made, and continue to make, a lasting impact in the fields of environmental science and our lives.
With Pride,
Dr. Melik Peter Khoury
President
