Invoking the words of late poetic icon Mari Evans, Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole kicked off the 2017-18 Steward Speakers Series by “speaking truth to the people.”
On Sept. 14, hundreds gathered in the historic Madame Walker Theatre to hear her address.
She spoke on the “incredibly painful” incidents in Charlottesville, Virginia, and made the case for increased diversity in corporate America, academia and the museum industry. She called for people to become more vocal in speaking against inequality in all its forms and ended with several inspirational quotes including a Sioux proverb: “With all beings and all things we shall be as relatives.”
Cole, who recently retired from her post as director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, spoke about her career in museums and higher education. She was the first Black female president of Spelman College and also served as president of Bennett College for many years.
In an interview with the Recorder prior to her speech, Cole talked about her new role as a senior consulting fellow of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Cole will advise Executive Vice President Mariët Westermann and other colleagues at the Mellon Foundation on key initiatives and activities, particularly those related to the Foundation’s work on diversity, accessibility, equity and inclusion in art museums and the academic disciplines related to the work of museums.
She also discussed the need for amplifying the voices of youth in the community.
“While it’s so easy to criticize our young people (and) to focus on the things they’re not doing, why don’t we focus on the good things that they are doing?” she said. “I have a lot of faith. I guess I’d have to; young people are the only future I’ve got.”
On Feb. 7, actor and comedian Nick Cannon will take the Steward Speakers lectern at the Madame Walker. Other speakers this season include attorney Valerie Jarrett and NBA legend and serial entrepreneur Magic Johnson. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit stewardspeakers.org.
