History-Makers were sent to schools all over the country today to empower youth to keep them focused on their studies and to think about their futures. Doctor Walter Broadnax, a Professor from the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University encouraged students to empower themselves to make positive change in the world atGeorge Fowler High School. Broadnax shared his own experiences as an African American youth in the U-S, dealing with bigotry and racism such as being attacked by a police officer for just smiling back at a white girl. He also used to get into fights in school until he met a 19 year-old teacher at age 14.
“She had such an impact on my life. I mean, my parents, ya know, my father threatening to kill me still couldn’t stop hitting, popping kids in the nose. So, you say something (to) make me mad, I do that and the school had run out of patience. Sara with her magic in getting me involved with her and thinking about other kinds of things, it had a real impact.”
Broadnax told students to reach out to join organizations to get involved and to do something positive in their lives to shape the world they want to live in. He says early education programs are also instrumental to a child’s overall success later in life.
“It’s fun and they get into it, and they look forward to it. And I think it’s one of the best investments and a lot of the research supports that. And I’m a big Head Start supporter. I think it’s really tough if you don’t intervene until the kids are 17,18,19, it’s tough.”
Broadnax encouraged students to empower themselves to make positive change in the world. Broadnax worked for Governor Mario Cuomo in the 80’s and he’s also worked under U-S Presidents Clinton and Carter. He formerly served as the President of Clark Atlanta University in 2002.
