John Jay’s celebration of Black History Month traditionally culminates with our annual Malcolm/King Awards Breakfast, which pays homage to the two Civil Rights giants, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while also recognizing the incredible talents of our student award winners and present racial justice visionaries. While this year’s celebration may be a little different, the vigor in how we honor their legacy remains the same. In anticipation of this year’s virtual Malcolm/King Awards Breakfast on February 26, 2021, we spoke with the student award winners to understand what Black History Month means to them and to learn how they hope to advance the goals of justice and equality for all.
With dreams of becoming a social psychologist, Melissa “Mel” Ceren ’21, a Forensic Psychology major, Ronald E. McNair student, and John Jay Vera Fellow, is on a mission to transform higher education into an environment that embraces and uplifts different cultural identities. Through her two passions of art and research, she’s hoping to create space in academic circles where Black researchers, scholars, and academics can be seen and heard, and where people from all backgrounds can be celebrated.
“To celebrate the successes of the Black community is to celebrate the world’s success.” —Melissa “Mel” Ceren
February is Black History Month. What does it mean to you to celebrate the many achievements generations of African-Americans have accomplished?
Celebrating the milestones African-Americans have accomplished is a testament to not just their generational resilience, but also their creativity and the culture they’ve continued to build in the United States. Though African-Americans are rarely credited for their constant groundbreaking work throughout history, the world as we know it today—technological advancements and American culture—would not exist without their contributions. The African-American community, especially Black women, represent the cultural blueprint for modern day western culture. To celebrate the successes of the Black community is to celebrate the world’s success.
What goals do you have for advancing equality and fairness for all people—especially African-Americans?
As an aspiring social psychologist, I hope to research the systemic and individual trauma that immigrant women, victims of domestic violence, asylum seekers, and the LGBTQ+ community face daily. Since this type of research could be focused on any racial group, I’d like to specifically research how this type of trauma impacts Black people. The Black experience in America—whether you’ve lived your entire life in the United States or immigrated here at some point—has very identifiable oppressive traits that don’t exist in any other marginalized community. This needs to be highlighted in academia, considered by our policy makers, and acknowledged in the general public. I aspire to be a social psychologist that can use my findings to help write policies that uplift historically marginalized communities, and more specifically, advocate for a space where Black researchers, scholars, and academics can be properly seen and heard.
“Growing up in Queens, New York, and going to John Jay, I see firsthand how African-American cultural heritage enriches this city.” —Melissa “Mel” Ceren
When you think of African-American history, what makes you the proudest?
The aspect which makes me the proudest is the cultural impact African-Americans have had in the U.S. From fashion to music, TV shows to cinema, African-Americans have helped shape the culture in this country. Growing up in Queens, New York, and going to John Jay, I see firsthand how African-American cultural heritage enriches this city. We have the Harlem Renaissance and the birth of Hip-Hop culture, and the Afro-immigrant communities from the Caribbean and Africa integrating their culture and traditions across our city. As a Latina, who is well-versed in Afro-centric contributions, I appreciate and respect African-American culture, and proudly recognize the culture in my artwork.
“As a Latina, who is well-versed in Afro-centric contributions, I appreciate and respect African-American culture, and proudly recognize the culture in my artwork.” —Melissa “Mel” Ceren
If you could talk to Malcolm X or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., what would you ask them? What would you want to say to them?
If I could speak to Malcolm X or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I would ask them for their input on Black Lives Matter, the movements to abolish prisons and defund the police, as well as their views on the revolutionary shift in social justice during the spring and summer of 2020. I would also ask them: What ways can artists help shape protest movements through visual arts?
Dr. King once famously said, “Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” As a student at a school focused on justice, what does that quote mean to you?
This quote represents hope to me. Dr. King articulated the hardships and hurdles needed to cross in the fight for justice and human rights. He acknowledged the pushback and the overall slowed progress of society and of a government that was sworn to work for the people. When he says, “but it bends toward justice”, Dr. King reassures those who believe in the fight for justice, that we are making progress. There may be a long way to go yet before we reach our goals, but our fight is not in vain.
“Dr. King reassures those who believe in the fight for justice, that we are making progress. There may be a long way to go yet before we reach our goals, but our fight is not in vain.” —Melissa “Mel” Ceren
What does being named a winner of the Malcolm/King Scholarship mean to you?
Winning the Malcolm/King Award encourages me to focus on cross-cultural and art-based counseling for those who are victims of trauma or gender-based violence. Being considered was an honor, and actually being awarded this distinction—especially one that’s named after such distinguished leaders—means a great deal to me. It means that being able to serve culturally diverse communities worldwide as an educated advocate for social justice is within my research.
If everything goes according to plan, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I aspire to be a professor who teaches the next generation to embrace cultural identities and backgrounds in their academic journey as scientists. This inclusivity will better equip students for a broad range of leadership positions. I’d love to open a nonprofit organization in art therapy, engaging in the creative power of visual arts for clinical assessment and treatment while staying in academia and researching policy reform. And, I would return to John Jay and pay it forward by setting up a scholarship or teaching. I have been motivated during my time at John Jay because of dedicated people like my mentor Dr. Charles B. Stone from the Psychology Department; the Ronald E. McNair’s program, which encourages underrepresented students to serve and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers; and my best friend Kajal Sieuraj who inspires and educates me every day.
