A college education will help make life a little easier, but black students can still expect to experience struggles in life, according to Shelby County Mayor A.C. Wharton, Jr.
"No matter how far you go with your degree or how good your grades are, there's still going to be hard times," he said.
Wharton was the guest speaker at the Black History Month 2006 Closing Ceremony yesterday at The University Center.
He said those students in attendance showed a willingness to learn more about black history than just dates and names.
"You're saying that you want to reach a little bit deeper," he said.
Wharton's advice for students who encounter rough times in life is to "make sure you have some faith to guide you."
"The greatest lesson we can learn from Black History Month is a reliance on faith," he said.
Although Wharton said he wouldn't dictate what that faith should be, he did say that just because The U of M is a state-run school, it doesn't mean students can't keep their beliefs when they step on campus.
"I haven't read a sign that says 'No faith allowed' on campus," he said. "Bring your faith with you."
Wharton told students he recently had the chance to meet James Meredith, the first black student to attend the University of Mississippi, the same school where Wharton received his degree in law. Wharton said Meredith is such an intriguing person because of the adversity he had to endure.
"There's no telling who he would be had he not decided to step away from the beaten path of familiarity," he said.
Wharton also said that all of those individuals who dealt with such hardship during the Civil Rights Movement must have had something to sustain them.
"It had to be faith," he said.
Wharton then talked about the story of Joseph from the Bible.
He said the plight of Joseph parallels that of African-Americans. Joseph was envied by his brothers because they thought he was their father's favorite. They in turn sold him into slavery, where he had dreams that propelled him into a position of power.
"Even at tragically low stations in life, Joseph excelled," Wharton said.
He also said the story parallels that of African-Americans because they are the only group in this country who did not come here by choice and "had a significant life in another land."
"While his body may have been in slavery, he never became a mental slave," he said.
Wharton said while blacks "need to remember what was done," they still shouldn't let anything keep them from succeeding.
"Don't let memories of toil hold you back and blind you to the hope that is in front of you."
After Wharton spoke, the Authur S. Holmon scholarship was presented to public relations major LaTonya Gray. The scholarship is named after the former associate dean of minority affairs.
"I'm definitely excited and honored to receive a scholarship in the name of a such a prestigious man, and it's definitely needed," Gray said.
Awards were also presented to the top three African-American campus organizations that participated in the Lifeblood Challenge. All of the organizations exceeded The U of M's goal of 50 donors for the month of February by drawing in 57 donors.
Tonya Butler, an assistant music business professor who attended the ceremony, saw Wharton speak for the first time.
"I thought it was wonderful," she said. "He has a really pleasant personality and I think he really summed up the month's events."
In the closing remarks, Rosie Bingham, the vice president of student affairs, reminded everyone that the month isn't just about African-Americans.
"Black History Month isn't merely about black people," she said. "It's about the history of this country and the history of this world."
