Black Domers: Past, Present, and Future

Experience the Event

Presented by

Thursday, February 1, 2024 7:00 pm

“Recent events in our nation have led to a national reckoning, to soul-searching and a demand for action with regard to racial and social injustice…There is a widespread sense of urgency to come together, to take meaningful action to achieve a more just and equitable society. Accompanying the urgency is a sense of hope that now is the moment for constructive and lasting change.” – Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Notre Dame: A Strategic Framework, June 2021

As our nation continues to face urgent calls for racial justice, many members of the Notre Dame family are seeking safe spaces for honest dialogue that can advance understanding and become a foundation for action. It is in that spirit that the Black Alumni of Notre Dame and ThinkND invite you to join us for the second season of Black Domers. We’ll explore experiences of Black alumni and students, imagine the future of social justice, convene Black entrepreneurial and business trailblazers, nurture Black well-being, and cultivate Black spirituality. All are welcome!

What does it mean to be Black at the University of Notre Dame? Join our panel discussion on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. to hear reflections on the unique lived experiences of Black students and alumni on our campus, followed by Q&A with the speakers.

Join the live Zoom event here, and use password BAofND, or enjoy the live stream below.

To submit a question for the speakers before or during the event, please use this form.

Speakers:

• Kendra Washington-Bass ’94 (opening), Chair, Black Alumni of Notre Dame Board
• Richard Ryans ’79 (moderator)
• Carol D. Anderson ’00 MBA
• Nneze Ekowa ’26
• Brandon Hardy ’20
• Nicole Juntunen ’99
• Billy Micard ’24
• Rochelle Valsaint ’95
• Don Wycliff ’69

Meet the Moderator: Richard Ryans '79

Richard Ryans ’79 has served in various capacities as it relates to the University of Notre Dame. He is one of the Co-founders of the Black Alumni of Notre Dame, and served two terms as Chairperson. In addition, he is a former member of the Notre Dame Diversity Council, Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the College of Business Administration’s Advisory Council. In 2017, he was awarded the Alumni Association “Volunteer of the Year” award. He has also been featured in the book, Black Domers: Then and Now: Seventy Years at Notre Dame.

He has been a CPA for over 40 years and currently works as a Controller in Elkridge, MD. He is a father of four, father-in-law of one, and resides in Baltimore, MD.

Meet the Speaker: Rochelle Valsaint '95

Rochelle Valsaint ’95’s corporate title is Marketing Project Manager for the City of Sandy Springs, Georgia. But, she would describe herself as a storyteller and writer at heart. Her love of people stories fuels her work in both her day job and side hustles. Her entrepreneurial passion is twofold – helping college-bound students and their families navigate the complicated process of college admissions and paying for college and, working with Black women entrepreneurs to create relevant and authentic brand stories, connections and experiences. 

Rochelle spent 15 years in service to the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Just two years after her 1995 graduation she became a part of the Black Alumni of Notre Dame Board of Directors. Over her tenure, she served as Regional Director, Communications Director, Vice-Chairperson and Chairperson of the Black Alumni of Notre Dame affinity group. During her time in BA (Black Alumni) leadership, she led the team in executing the first national fundraiser for the Frazier Thompson scholarship fund and established the affinity group’s initial online presence with a digital newsletter, Facebook group, blog and Twitter account back in 2009. 

Rochelle is a proud native New Orleanian living in Atlanta. She’s the mother of two young adults and pet mom of their dog, Gumbeaux (Beaux). She’s a writer constantly at work and looks forward to finishing the novel she’s started in the future.

Meet the Speaker: Nicole Juntunen '99

Nicole Juntunen ’99 is a sales, marketing, and business development executive with over 20 years of diverse experience, and currently serves as Sr. Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Footprint, LLC, a Cleveland Avenue PE portfolio company.  Nicole has worked with VC, PE backed, family owned, and Fortune 50 manufacturing companies throughout her career. She has broad consumer packaged goods industry experience, including food & beverages, health and beauty care, and sustainable packaging. Nicole’s roles have spanned leadership positions in S. Martinelli & Co., Mars Inc., Wrigley, L’Oréal, PepsiCo, and General Mills. Nicole is a board advisor for S. Martinelli & Co., is a member of NEXT (Network for Executive Women,) Global Women Procurement Professionals, serves on the Pullman Foundation Scholarship Selection Board, led the Wrigley African American Sales Council, and served previously as the Vice-Chair and Chair for the Notre Dame Black Alumni Board. A Chicago native, Nicole is a ’99 graduate of the University, and double majored in Marketing and Government with a Concentration in International Business. During her time at Notre Dame, she was active in the Black Student Union, Committee Chair on the Student Union Board, a member of The Chorale, a founding member of First-Class Step Team, and was the Building Manager of LaFortune for several years.

Meet the Speaker: Carol Anderson '00 MBA

Carol D. Anderson ’00 MBA is the Managing Partner/Principal Consultant of Anderson Finance Consulting, LLC, an  Outsourced CFO Services Company she founded in 2018. This Consultancy expands the profit and  growth possibilities of small- to medium-sized companies, course-correcting from stagnant to declining  profits, or growing by new products, new markets, acquisition, or internationally.  

Ms. Anderson leverages almost 20 years of experience in Corporate Finance and FP&A, in ventures  ranging from entrepreneurial endeavors as a consultant to multi-million dollar initiatives as a corporate  employee in companies like Starbucks, Best Buy, Teledyne, and Westfield Corporation, to name a few.  Carol now leads Anderson Finance Consulting, LLC, creating superior value for client companies by  focusing on quality and sustainable profit generation, through a comprehensive strategic approach to  business planning and operations. She guides companies to maximize revenue growth, optimize  efficiency, and generate earnings that meet or exceed year-over-year profit goals.  

As an astute communicator and coach, Carol makes Finance palatable and easy to translate and execute,  via trainings, coaching, and development of business owners and leaders, especially non-finance  professionals, using her proprietary training modules to uplevel Finance acumen.  Carol D. Anderson holds an MBA, Finance, from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of  Business, and her undergraduate degree and a second masters, Master of Accounting, Corporate Finance,  from the University of Southern California. Concurrent with her professional life, Ms. Anderson is an  avid adventure traveler, sports enthusiast, arts aficionado, speaker, and writer, with her book Why JOY  Matters forthcoming by year-end. Carol resides in Los Angeles, California.

Meet the Speaker: Brandon Hardy '20

Brandon Hardy ’20, was born in Atlanta, Georgia in December of 1997, 6th of a family of 7. Before attending the university of Notre Dame, Brandon was a student at Columbia High School where he served as President of the Senior Class and won prestigious awards such as Best All Around Student, the Coca Cola Scholarship Award, the Horatio Alger National Scholarship Award, the Dell Scholarship Award, and the Simon Family Scholarship Award to name a few. As a student at Notre Dame, Brandon would double major in marketing and political science. While on campus he became known for his gold jacket he’d wear to football and basketball games. Brandon completed 5 study abroad programs (Italy, China, Ireland, Jerusalem, and South Africa). Because of this, Brandon was appointed on the University’s Committee for Internationalization, appointed by Michael Pippenger, vice president and associate provost for internationalization. Brandon also served as a study abroad ambassador. Brandon was tapped by Under Armor to become their first ever campus ambassador holding that feat for two consecutive years. He also worked for the University in its admissions department as the lead for social media and held several internships positions at KPMG in Chicago. Today, Brandon is a Territory Manager at Google in its Cloud division. He lives in Atlanta and holds a position as a board member for the Notre Dame club of Atlanta. 

Meet the Speaker: Billy Micard '24

Billy Micard ’24 is currently a senior at Notre Dame studying finance with a real estate minor. He was born in Haiti, but has adopted Fort Myers, Florida as his home away from home. Billy is serving as the president of Wabruda for the 2023-2024 year. Wabruda has played a pivotal role in Billy’s time at Notre Dame and his interactions with his brothers and fellow black man at Notre Dame has helped shape Billy into the man he is today. During his time at Notre Dame, Billy has been involved in clubs such as Student International Business Council, Black Business Association of Notre Dame, and the Real Estate Club. Highlights from his time at Notre Dame include studying abroad in South Africa and Brazil.

Meet the Speaker: Nneze Ekowa '26

Nneze Ekowa ’26 is a sophomore from Plainfield, Illinois with a major in biology and minors in history and sociology. On campus, she is an organic chemistry and theology tutor for first-year students as well as a literacy and math tutor for local elementary students. She also serves as an undergraduate researcher in the Biology department, a student ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the Multicultural Commissioner for Flaherty Hall, a reporter for NDTV, and a member of Shades of Ebony.

Meet the Speaker: Kendra Washington-Bass '94

Dr. Kendra Washington-Bass ’94 is a distinguished educator with over 25 years of dedicated experience in the field. Her journey in education has seen her excel as a teacher, principal, and professional developer, where she has passionately championed equitable opportunities for children. With a resolute commitment to fostering excellence in teachers and leaders, Dr. Washington-Bass has become a trailblazer in the realm of education.

Currently serving as the National Designer and Facilitator at The Leadership Academy, Dr. Washington-Bass continues to be a driving force in advancing culturally responsive pedagogy. Her innovative approach amplifies student engagement through collaborative partnerships with schools, fostering critical consciousness skills, and promoting the development of equitable curricula. Notably, her tenure as the Executive Director in Gwinnett County Public Schools was marked by transformative leadership, as she empowered educators and spearheaded instructional capacity growth.

A dynamic thought leader, Dr. Washington-Bass has also made her mark as a best-selling author, with her book “Unwrapped: The Pursuit of Justice for Women Educators.” Moreover, she is a co-founder of The Lucy Leadership Project, an initiative that empowers and uplifts women in leadership roles, enabling them to thrive and excel in their professional endeavors.

Dr. Washington-Bass is an alumna of the University of Notre Dame, where she earned her degree in Communications and Film, and for whom she currently serves as the Chair of the Black Alumni of Notre Dame Board. She further honed her expertise with a Master’s degree in Urban and Multicultural Education from the College of Mount St. Vincent. Her academic journey culminated in Specialist and Doctorate degrees from Mercer University, solidifying her commitment to lifelong learning and advancement in the field of education.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Washington-Bass’s personal identity is woven with pride as a native New Yorker. She currently calls Georgia home, alongside her husband Jason. As a devoted mother to Julian and Justice, Dr. Washington-Bass finds joy in family life. Her interests extend to the realms of pop culture, where she’s an avid fan of all things Star Wars and football. With an unwavering dedication to education and a multifaceted persona, Dr. Washington-Bass is an inspiring force that continues to shape and elevate the field of education.

Meet the Speaker: Don Wycliff '69

Don Wycliff ’69 spent 35 years in the newspaper industry as a reporter, editor, editorial writer and opinion columnist. His career included stints of five years as a member of the editorial board of The New York Times, nine years as editorial page editor of the Chicago Tribune and six years as the Tribune’s public editor, or ombudsman. In that last position he wrote a widely read weekly column on issues in journalism.

During his tenure as the Tribune’s editorial page editor, the paper won one Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing and was a finalist for a second. The paper also won two Distinguished Writing Awards in editorial writing from the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE). Wycliff personally was a Pulitzer finalist in 1996 and the winner of the ASNE editorial writing award in 1997.

Wycliff finished his working life as the distinguished journalist in residence at the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago. He retired from Loyola in June 2014.

He is a 1969 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. After his retirement, he co-edited  a book of essays, Black Domers: African-American Students at Notre Dame in Their Own Words. It originally was published in June 2014 and was reissued in a new edition in September 2017.

He is the father of two grown sons. He now lives in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife, Pamela.

Celebrating the Black Alumni Legacy: Then, Now, and Our Future

View the recording of this 2021 Black Alumni of Notre Dame event featuring panelists Ben Finley ‘60, Richard Ryans ‘79, Nicole Juntunen ‘99, Shelly Williams ‘07, Kaya Lawrence ‘21, Jeff Musema ‘21 and N’Kaela Webster ‘21 and moderated by Emorja Roberson ‘22.

MODERATOR:

EMORJA ROBERSON ’22

Emorja Roberson is a pianist, conductor, workshop coordinator, composer, arranger and vocalist in world of classical and gospel. In 2016, he debuted “Let’s Just Praise the Lord” with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, which came from his project, Rejuvenate Me (2015). 

Roberson graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance, where he studied with Krzysztof Biernacki. As a young artist, he held lead roles in Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), The Consul, The Mikado and La Bohème with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and performed as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah. 

In October 2016, he recorded solos on Robert Kry’s, Paradiso: Transformation and Transfiguration and Mass for the Oppressed by Emerson Eads. He has premiered Evelyn Simpson Curenton’s “Sweet Lil Jesus” and was featured as the soloist for J.J. Wright’s O Emmanuel with the Notre Dame Children’s Choir. In March 2016, Roberson was casted as Duke Frederick in Roger Steptoe’s world-premiere opera of the Shakespeare’s play, “As You Like It”, under the direction of John Apeitos. Throughout his experience in the Sacred Music Program, Roberson served under the tutelage of Dr. Stephen Lancaster, and has worked with world-renowned soprano, Deborah Voight, Carla Rae Cook, and, J.J. Penna. In 2016, Roberson recorded with Grammy Award Winner, Arturo Sandoval, for the Notre Dame Children’s Choir CD, Christmas at Notre Dame, as a soloist on “Frosty, the Snowman” with Matthew Kelly.

August 2017, Emorja coordinated the Weekend of Worship in DeFuniak Springs, FL for churches of diverse communities, which provided workshops on the liturgical sacred music of the church and the fundamentals of reading music, which concluded with a concert of various genres of music. 

As of May 2017, Roberson was coined as the first African-American to graduate with a Master of Sacred Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Notre Dame. Roberson was a student of Dr. Mark Doerries and was the first African-American student in the Doctor of Musical Arts program to study Choral Conducting with a focus in African-American repertoire.  In addition to piloting the Voices of Courage choir at Madison Primary Center, Roberson served as the Director of Music for Olivet African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Graduate Assistant for the Notre Dame Folk Choir.

January 2018, Roberson’s compositions, “I Need Your Presence” and “Lord, I Am Grateful” were debuted by the South Bend Symphony Orchestra under the batons of Dr. Marvin Curtis and Dr. Alastair Willis. Roberson was the first place winner for the 2018 American Negro Spirituals competition and performed at Severance Hall in Cleveland, OH. In 2019, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra will debuted Roberson’s recently recorded, “God Is My Refuge” and “Trust In The Lord” at the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. 

As a doctoral student, Roberson hosted the University of Notre Dame’s first Black History Month concert, which featured artists in jazz, classical, and gospel, and included performers: Callie Day, Isaac Cates, J.J. Wright, and Alex Mansour. 

In June 2019, he made his national debut on Season 9 of BET’s Sunday Best competition as a top 20 contestant. In June 2019, he made his national debut on Season 9 of BET’s Sunday Best competition as a top 20 contestant, and in March 2020, his recent composition, “Seek Ye First” from The Evening Musicale (2019), was featured on Sirius XM 64 (Kirk Franklin’s Praise). Roberson is the recipient of the 2020 Song of the Year award and the 2020 People’s Choice Award with Independent Gospel Artist Alliance Award. He is the Director of Voices of Faith Gospel Choir and the Founder and former Host for Black@ND. 

He was awarded with the 2021 Academic Freedom Award from the Department of Africana Studies and is the recipient of the 2022 Sr. Jean Lenz Award for his leadership that promotes a more diverse, inclusive campus community for all students.

In April 2022, he premiered his oratorio, BE-SPOKEN, which highlights the experiences of the Black experience through jazz, hip-hop, and gospel. The premiere included artists, such as, Anthony Walker, King Chav, HarRell D. Young, Donishisa Ballard, and Grammy-Award winner, Ledisi. Making history once again, on June 30, 2022, Roberson became the first African-American to receive a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Notre Dame.

Roberson is a 2022 recipient of the Future of Music Faculty Fellowship with Cleveland Institute of Music and the Assistant Professor of Music and African American Studies at Oxford College of Emory University.

PANELISTS:

BEN FINLEY ’60

Ben celebrated his 60th reunion this past June. He graduated from ND with a BS in Electrical Engineering which was enhanced with a with a Master Degree in Electrical Engineering from New York University in 1965. He spent 39 exciting and fun-filled years in the aerospace industry developing multiple weapon sub-systems and gaining expertise in program management, business development, line management and electronic systems design. Throughout his career he was the only African American in the room where it happened.  In the past 60 years, Ben’s technical career afforded him the opportunity to change the lives of countless African Americans.

At Notre Dame:  In 1957 Ben launched the Nu Nu Delta fraternity which, with support from the black South Bend community, was dedicated to establishing a social life for the 20 black males encamped in the sea of salt.  In 1959, Ben organized ND’s first Civil Rights Committee a multi-racial group recognizing and supporting of the student sit-ins going on in the South. this committee led a march from campus to the steps of the South Bend city hall.  In 1987, with the support of Fr. Ted, he co-founded the Black Alumni of Notre Dame (BA) as a sub-committee of the Alumni Association. BA became the cornerstone for the formation of the other “Affinity Groups” now prevalent within the Alumni Association. Ben also credits BA with being the catalyst which led to the diversification of the faces of the ND’s administration, staff and faculty under the Presidency of Fr. Monk.  In 2000 Ben was honored with the Alumni Associations Reynold’s Award in recognition of his efforts in recruiting and mentoring, over the course of 15 years, 150+ black students from Southern California through their 4 years in the ND cauldron.  Ben’s son Ben graduated in 1992 with a degree in Finance and his son Micah is currently enrolled as an Engineering major in the class of 2023.

At Hughes Aircraft:  In 1987, he co-founded and lead the Hughes Aircraft Black Professional Forum, an organization dedicated to the positive career development of its constituents.

In the world of exciting adventure: In 1966, Ben co-founded and led 4 Seasons West Ski & Snowboard Club in Los Angeles. An organization which, over the course of 54 years, has introduced thousands of black Angelinos to the thrills winter sports.  In 1973, under Ben’s leadership, 4SW conceived and directed the first Black Summit, a gathering of 11 black ski clubs which has now swelled to become the largest ski convention in America.  This first Black Summit resulted in the founding of the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS), a non-profit corporation, whose primary purposes are to promote the sport within the community and to guide and fund the development of black youth aspiring to the U.S. Olympic Ski Team.  • In 2020, Ben and his friend Arthur Clay were the first African Americans to be inducted into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in recognition of their nearly 50-year vision which has created tens of thousands of snow sports enthusiasts, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue across the winter sports industry. The NBS’ annual gathering is one of the largest ski events in America.

RICHARD RYANS ’79

Richard Ryans has served in various capacities as it relates to the University of Notre Dame. He is one of the Co-founders of the Black Alumni of Notre Dame, and served two terms as Chairperson. In addition, he is a former member of the Notre Dame Diversity Council, Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the College of Business Administration’s Advisory Council. In 2017, he was awarded the Alumni Association “Volunteer of the Year” award. He has also been featured in the book, “Black Domers: Then and Now: Seventy Years at Notre Dame”.

He has been a CPA for over 40 years and is currently an entrepreneur in the travel industry. He is a husband, father of four, father-in-law of one, and resides in Columbia, MD.

“As a co-founder of BA, I’ve spent over 30 years building and supporting this organization. Just like any parent feels about their child, I will always love and support this organization in any way possible.”

NICOLE JUNTUNEN ’99

Nicole is a senior sales, marketing, and business development executive with over 20 years of diverse experience, and currently serves as Vice President of Commercial and Business Development for AeroFlexx, an Innventure portfolio company.  Nicole has worked with PE backed, family owned, and Fortune 50 manufacturing companies throughout her career. She has broad consumer packaged goods industry experience, including food & beverages, health and beauty care, and sustainable packaging. Nicole’s roles have spanned leadership positions in Mars Inc., Wrigley, L’Oréal, PepsiCo, and General Mills. Prior to Aeroflexx Nicole was the Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Be Green Packaging, and spent over 13 years at Mars, Inc in various sales, marketing and business development leadership roles before moving to the PE/ VC sector. She is a member of the Network for Executive Women and Global Women Procurement Professionals, serves on the Pullman Foundation Scholarship Selection Board, led the Wrigley African American Sales Council, and served previously as the Vice-Chair and Chair for the Notre Dame Black Alumni Board. A Chicago native, Nicole is a ’99 graduate of the University, and double majored in Marketing and Government with a Concentration in International Business. During her time at Notre Dame, she was active in the Black Student Union, Committee Chair on the Student Union Board, a member of The Chorale, a founding member of First Class Step Team, and was the Building Manager of LaFortune for several years. 

SHELLY WILLIAMS ’07

Williams is the Executive Director of Access Academies, a non-profit organization in St. Louis, Missouri that propels underserved middle school students through high school and on to college and career success with enrichment, counseling, and scholarships. Her work is deeply rooted in the ethos of community engagement and guided by her drive to be a catalyst and inspiration for others. She received her B.A. in Anthropology from Notre Dame in 2007. While there, she volunteered as a Robinson Community and Learning Center tutor and youth director. Her passion for helping communities improve youth outcomes guided her to the Nine Network of Public Media, where she served PBS stations and local communities as the Initiative Director of American Graduate. Her efforts garnered multiple honors and awards, including an EMMY from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. She later became the Director of Marketing and Community Engagement for LUME Institute, a non-profit organization improving society by transforming the way children are inspired to learn and grow. She was elected Board Chair for the Black Alumni of Notre Dame/Notre Dame Alumni Association in June 2020-July 2023 after serving as the board’s Director of Communications for five years.  

KAYA LAWRENCE ’21

Kaya Lawrence graduated from Notre Dame in 2021 with a degree in Political Science and Global Affairs with a concentration in International Peace Studies. She is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana and is a former resident of Badin Hall. On campus, Kaya was involved with Shades of Ebony for three years and served as President. Kaya also served as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion in Student Government. Additionally, Kaya has been avidly involved in Class Council and served as Secretary her first year. Previously, Kaya also served as a Senator and a Multicultural Commissioner for Badin Hall. Following graduation, Kaya hoped to attend law school to pursue a JD degree. 

JEFF MUSEMA ’21

Jeff Musema, Class of 2021, was the President of Wabruda and the Multicultural Pre-Medical Society (MPMS). Originally from Granger, IN, Jeff double majors in Neuroscience and Economics and attended medical school after graduation. 

“I’m truly excited for what the future of BA of ND holds! I’ve been fortunate to be friends with, work alongside, and learn a lot from black student leaders during my time at Notre Dame, and I believe our collective ambitions will surely carry BA of ND forward if we remain united in our efforts towards better tomorrows.”

N’KAELA WEBSTER ’21

N’Kaela Webster is a class of 2021 undergrad from Newark, New Jersey with a double major in Political Science and American Studies. N’Kaela was a member of several clubs on campus while serving as the secretary for ND Troop Dance Team and the president of the Black Student Association.

Billy Micard: A Frazier Thompson Award Reflection

This summer I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Brazil with the help of Frazier Thompson. Going to Brazil was a dream come true because I grew up admiring Brazilian soccer stars such as Ronaldinho and Kaká. As a young child in Haiti, I was never really aware of the poor conditions of my country, but whenever the Brazilian national team would play I would be glued to the TV and in a way they inspired me to  dream. Going to Brazil was just something that had just made sense to me; I wanted to visit the country that helped me so much as a child. I  have never felt so drawn to a place like that, and I am so delighted to say that Brazil did not disappoint.

From the moment I stepped foot in the country I felt welcome. Brazilian people are some of the nicest people I have ever met, they truly embraced me as one of their own. Many actually thought that I was Brazilian, which was truly an honor. The trip allowed me to see the many sides of Brazil, the good and some of the bad. The course I took in Brazil was called, “Brazil: A Social Mosaic” and it gave me an in depth look into the history of Brazil from its colonial past to its waves of migration. Learning about Brazil’s history allowed me to compare Brazil to the United States (where I live) and South Africa (where I went for my sophomore study abroad trip) in terms of progress and especially in regards to race. I found it interesting that Brazil is such a mixed country and many people think that racism doesn’t exist because of this mixture or what Brazilians call Mesticagem. This pales in comparison to the United States where most things are racially classified as black and white for the most part. I found these nuances on race and how it differs from country to country interesting, however I found the Brazilian myth of a Racial Democracy to be dangerous because in Brazil the elites and those in power did not look like most of the people that I encountered. So what worries me is that in countries that say they are color blind or too mixed to be racist, the injustices that happen to people of color go unnoticed because there is no name by which to call out these systemic inequities.

Aside from the new perspectives on race that I gained, the most meaningful part of my trip to Brazil was getting to interact with people who founded Non-Governmental Organizations that helped out those in the favelas or those of lower socioeconomic status. It was touching to see the founders of these NGOs working with such empathy and fighting to change the way people in the favelas are treated and providing opportunities for them that wouldn’t exist otherwise. It really solidified that I want to someday be able to give back to those who are overlooked in society, and maybe even establish my own organization for doing so. I was given a chance to be something in my life, but that wasn’t always the case so I want to be able to give that chance to others like myself.

This article was written by Billy Micard ’24, and published by Multicultural Student Programs and Services on January 19, 2024.

Black@ND

BLACK@ND is a podcast about the experiences of Notre Dame’s African American students, current and alumni, and the steps taken to survive in a community that lacks representation of color. It seeks to be a forum for an open and honest conversation that gives greater visibility to the experience of Black students, faculty, staff, and alumni at the University of Notre Dame. Its purpose is to foster constructive self-criticism and awareness within the University community in order to contribute to the University’s mission to promote a spirit of diversity and inclusion.

#BlackFacts

Join the Black@ND crew for 31 days of short videos about Black history.