By Dr. Bernadine Futrell
Dear Head Start community,
Black History Month is an annual opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Black people and their accomplishments, contributions, and influences. The proud legacy of Black history includes the Head Start program. The Head Start program originated out of the Civil Rights Movement and counted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the late congressmen John Lewis and Elijah Cummings among its champions. Dr. Edmund Gordon was on the panel of experts who laid out recommendations for Head Start services and was the first research director of the federal Head Start program.
As a Black woman, Black History Month resonates especially, even as I press toward equity for all people. My family’s story is another example of the strength of Black people to improve the lives of all Americans. My maternal grandfather, Mr. John Garrett, fought alongside many Black Americans in World War II. My paternal great-grandfather, Rev. Gussie Pearson, worked with others to support the early legal battles for school desegregation in Clarendon County, South Carolina. Their efforts in Clarendon County became a catalyst for the cases that were filed in the United States Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education. These stories of my ancestors and others, who dedicated their lives to service during the most distressing periods in history, never fail to inspire me.
The Head Start frontline workforce is another source of inspiration to celebrate during Black History Month. About a quarter of Head Start teaching staff is African American. Our Head Start staff give access to opportunities to the next generation of leaders. Staff and programs foster welcoming and nurturing environments for children and families. These positive environments are enhanced by the life experiences of each staff person, who often work in their own communities. I honor and salute you, my Head Start heroes, for doing this significant work of enriching lives and creating a brighter future for us all.
I stand on the shoulders of all the heroes who courageously fight for equity and justice. As a Head Start alumnus and former assistant teacher, it is a uniquely remarkable experience to serve as the Director of the Office of Head Start as a presidential appointee. I am proud to be equipped, through seeds planted by my ancestors and nurtured by the Head Start program, to do the necessary work to make sure that all children have equitable access to a high-quality and rewarding education regardless of color or circumstance. We as a nation must make sure that all children continue to experience the joy, wonder, and awe of learning, dreaming, and achieving.
There are a lot more stories of Head Start heroes yet to be told. There are trailblazers and local heroes across the country who have made tireless sacrifices to support Head Start programs in addressing inequities by offering comprehensive services to children and families. I hope you will share the story of your Head Start hero on Twitter or Facebook, and tag #HeadStartHeroes, @HeadStartgov, and @OHS_Director, so we can all appreciate their legacy.
Dr. Bernadine Futrell is the Director of the Office of Head Start.