UNC Health Celebrates Black History Month

February is Black History Month, a time to recognize the achievements of Black people and celebrate our diverse voices. UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine teammates share a little about themselves and what Black History means to them.

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1. Name: Darryl Owens

          Title: Clinical Chaplain, Pastoral Care

          Entity: UNC Hospitals

1. What Is Your Favorite Mantra or Quote? “Treat each person as you want to be treated!”
2. If You Could Have a Conversation with a Civil Rights Activist, Who Would it Be and Why? My great-grandmother, whom I never met. She and my great-grandfather built a one-room schoolhouse in rural Virginia and taught local children there.
3. What Does Black History Mean to You? Black History means telling our story in the way it should be told, including our pain and our triumphs. It should not be a sanitized version.
4. Fun Fact: I am a fraternal twin. My mother and two of her siblings had four sets of fraternal twins between the three of them.

2. Name: Gabrielle White

     Title: HCS Pharmacy Billing Supervisor, Pharmacy Business Office

     Entity: UNC Hospitals

1.   What Is Your Favorite Mantra or Quote? “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. Please remember that your difficulties do not define you. They simply strengthen your ability to overcome.”-Maya Angelou
2. If You Could Have a Conversation with a Civil Rights Activist, Who Would it Be and Why? Rosa Parks. Her decisions not only changed her life forever but played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement.
3. What Does Black History Mean to You? Black History is a combination of all the stories that make up African American History, from the Revolutionary War, to slavery, to the Civil Rights Movement and the March on Washington, to experiencing our first African American president.
4. Fun Fact: I started crafting about four years ago and now have a small business where I customize tumblers and journals.

3. Name: Karlina Matthews

     Title: Associate Dean of Administration

     Entity: UNC School of Medicine

1. What Is Your Favorite Mantra or Quote? “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
2. If You Could Have a Conversation with a Civil Rights Activist, Who Would it Be and Why? Malcolm X because of the public transformation of his beliefs to a more inclusive vision of civil and human rights, and his complex and dynamic intellectual journey that was marked by a willingness to reconsider and adapt based on new experiences and insights. I would love to hear more about his leadership journey.
3. What Does Black History Month Mean to You? To me, Black History is present and ever-evolving. It is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black people in America. It showcases the transformative power of activism, leadership and cultural expression in  shaping a more inclusive and equitable environment.
4. Fun Fact: I’m a thrill-seeker. I like going skydiving and swimming with sharks.

4. Name: Erica Schwarting

      Title: Inclusion and Wellbeing Manager

       Entity: UNC Health Blue Ridge

1. What Is Your Favorite Mantra or Quote? My mantra is 100% “live your story.” I believe we get one human life, so I’m consciously mindful about being present and creating experiences.I have two quotes that resonate with me. The first one is “ordinary people in local communities can do extraordinary things when they’re given a chance, when their voices are heard, when they come together, and when they recognize themselves in each other.” – Barack Obama. This illuminates another quote about Barack Obama’s mother, “She was always very good at finding a language that the other person would understand, regardless of where they were from, or their socio-economic background. And I think that’s a major gift that’s bestowed on us.”

2. If You Could Have a Conversation with a Civil Rights Activist, Who Would it Be and Why? I would be honored to speak with any human from the past or present who has championed civil rights, but Mildred and Richard Loving are two civil rights activists who certainly resonate with me. They played a significant role in the U.S. Civil Rights movement due to their pivotal involvement in the landmark Supreme Court case, Loving v. Virginia (1967). The case challenged and ultimately struck down laws prohibiting interracial marriage in the United States, which certainly resonated with me because I am in an interracial marriage. The court’s decision not only legalized interracial marriage nationwide but also had broader implications for civil rights by affirming the principle of equal protection under the law.
3. What Does Black History Month Mean to You? I grew up as a biracial female and was adopted by two White parents from the North and was raised primarily in the South. I spent most of my existence leading a life where I am neither White nor Black. This didn’t exclude me from the awareness of privileges that came from having White parents or the cruel discrimination of having brown skin. My story, as well as many others, is one of walking back and forth across racial lines and trying to determine where belonging resides. Black History Month holds a unique significance for me as it represents diverse heritage that shapes my identity. It’s an opportunity to honor the contributions of both sides of my heritage and help foster a sense of unity and understanding that may not always be felt. It invites a time for reflection, acknowledgment and appreciation for the complexities and richness of my cultural roots.
4. Fun Fact: I’m a member of the National Black Marathoners Association. A few years ago, I ran the Mt. Kilimanjaro Marathon. I actually have the numbers from my race bib tattooed down my spine in Swahili: moja. tatu. sufuri. nne. nne.(13044)

5. Name: LaKeshia Neal

         Title: Nursing Coordinator, Maternal Fetal Medicine

         Entity: UNC Health Rex

1. What Is Your Favorite Mantra or Quote? “I did my best, and God did the rest.” -Hattie McDaniel
2. If You Could Have a Conversation with a Civil Rights Activist, Who Would it Be and Why? I’d have a conversation with Shirley Chisholm, a trailblazing politician and activist. Her legacy continues to empower and inspire a new generation of leaders.
3. What Does Black History Month Mean to You? “To me, Black History is the celebration of the past and the bright hope for the future. The number of people who dedicated their lives to changere-affirms the fact that I have no excuse to not impact my community, this country and the world.”
4. Fun Fact: I played the tuba for two years in my high school marching band. That instrument was heavy!

6. Name: Makayla King

      Title:  Executive Assistant, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

      Entity: UNC School of Medicine

3. What Is Your Favorite Mantra or Quote? “Treat each person as you want to be treated!”
4. If you could have a conversation with a civil rights activist, who would it be and why?I’d have a conversation with Martin Luther King, Jr. I’d ask him how he maintained such a calm demeanor even in the face of adversity.
5. What Does Black History Month Mean to You? “Because I’m an immigrant, Black History was not taught in school.  Moving to the U.S. allowed me to have a deep understanding of Black History.  I learned that there are so many accomplishments and strides that African Americans have made, despite all the challenges faced.  I have so many more opportunities because of the tireless work of so many people who have come before me. Black History to me means determination, perseverance, and it also means success. Black history is simply my history!”
6. Fun Fact: I have sat in the same room with over 50 heads of state, including presidents and prime ministers. I also sat in the same room as Pope Benedict XVI.

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