Black History Month spotlight: Cierre Jones, former Spears leader and alum
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Media Contact: Bailey Stacy | Communications Coordinator, Marketing & Communications | 405-744-2700 | bailey.stacy@okstate.edu
Is there a historic event that you remember vividly? 9/11? Oklahoma City Bombing? Growing up, February was more than the Valentine’s Day, it was the month we celebrated Black History and learned about the Civil Rights Movement. I remember learning about the Underground Railroad in Mrs. Needham’s 2nd grade and Ms. Cox’s 3rd grade class. I remember learning about Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. in Mrs. Haines U.S. History class my sophomore year of high school.
Can you remember when you learned about these activists and historic events?
In honor of Black History Month, we decided to ask some of our students, faculty and alumni questions about what Black History Month means to them and how they celebrate it.
To start us off, we have Cierre Jones, an OSU alum with dual degrees in accounting and finance. He currently works as an accelerated career track associate within commercial banking at BOK Financial in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was involved in Black Business Student Association, African American Student Association, Omega Delta Phi, Presidents Partners and many other clubs and societies. Here is what Jones had to say about Black History Month and the Civil Rights Movement.
Who is your favorite Civil Rights activist and why?
Angela Davis. She is a fearless woman who has fought many fights. From black rights
to feminism, class struggles and prison reform. She made it a mission to be an activist
for groups that both directly and indirectly affected black struggles at the time.
She is alive and fighting for change to this day!
Favorite Black History documentary/ies?
My vote for most impactful and informative (while being easy to follow and fact-based)
is 13th on Netflix. My second, a more lighthearted choice, is Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap.
Is there a specific event throughout history which stood out to you most and why?
Any and every protest/assembly that is led by a thirst for change, a want for the
improvement of society and is not rooted in hatred. Our country itself is the result
of protests dating to colonial times, pushing back and ultimately revolting from the
British. Protests, even if they do not directly cause change, bring unavoidable awareness
to a topic/situation that must be addressed.
What do you hope people gain from Black History Month?
Use this month as a time to simply educate ourselves and this can come in many forms.
I challenge ALL my fellow Pokes (all races, black included) to take some time this
month, even just an hour a day to watch a documentary or read a few articles to educate
themselves on black suffrage, black culture and/or general black history from any
point in time.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
For me, it is a time to educate myself on the culture, history and everything in between.
To embrace and celebrate those who paved the way for me to be who I am today.
Story By: Alexis Hightower | alexis.hightower@okstate.edu