Why do you think Black History Month is important? And what does it mean to you?
Black History is a milestone, a marker, that conveys the very important message that a group of people undervalued in the past is now acknowledged and celebrated. The easiest way for a society to dominate another group, is to deny or eradicate that group’s history (good and bad). Yes, Black History is American history, indeed it is world history. For me, growing up, the month was a reminder that I mattered. I too had a narrative that is worth celebrating. The ensuing years has not diminished the meaning and importance of the month to me.
What is an event or moment in Black History that has directly influenced your life, or that you believe is especially important?
Without question, the modern Civil Rights Movement. It created opportunities for me and so many others to advance as full citizens in our American democracy. I include in that Movement the quest for the right to vote and the eradication of de jure and de facto segregation. But I also believe that the Black Power Movement that grew alongside the Civil Rights Movement deserves special mention and appreciation. Together the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement produced far-reaching change in American society.
Who is a Black individual that you believe has enhanced the field of public administration?
There are so many, but my favorite is Dr. Ralph Bunche, the first Black person to win the Nobel Peace Prize (for his role in brokering peace accords in the Middle East in 1948). Looking at his life and career, continues to fill me with awe, inspiration and pride. Bunche was an exceptional scholar, diplomat, and international civil servant, and advocate for human rights whose brilliance changed the world.
Who is a Black individual that has influenced your specific area of work?
My career passion centers on how nations, cities and communities achieve social and economic development. The life and work of Sir. W. Arthur Lewis (the first black to win the Nobel Prize in Economics) shaped my views on micro-finance, community-based development and the value of unskilled labor in the development process. Similar to Bunche, Lewis had a multi-faceted career as a scholar, advisor to developing countries, senior academic administrator and head of a regional central bank. I still return to Lewis’ book, Theory of Economic Growth for his seminal and accessible ideas on national, regional and local development.
How do you plan to observe Black History Month?
First, I plan to watch the PBS series Eyes on the Prize – which I do every February. The series has not lost its relevance nor depth of presentation. But more importantly, I plan to engage in many different celebrations of the month and with a diverse set of individuals who appreciate why Black History is important.
Why do you think diversity in the workplace is important?
Diversity is critical for any ecosystem, any nation, any business, any community to survive and thrive. Appreciation of diversity brings resilience and improvement through adaptive learning and promoting social cohesion. For any organization to stay the course and accomplish its mission, valuing diversity has to be in the forefront. Having said that, promoting diversity has to be intentional on the part of leadership. It is not an easy process, and it takes a combination of incentives (promotion or bonuses tied to enhancing diversity), moral suasion (it is the right thing to do), goal setting (developing goals for a diverse workforce). A great example of why diversity is so critical can be found in Margot Lee Shetterly’s book Hidden Figures. The book chronicles the lives and careers of the Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden, all black women mathematicians working for NASA during the early years of America’s venture into space. They and many other unheralded black women mathematicians were critical in intelligence analysis during World War II and stayed in government to assist in America’s achievements in space in the Post War period. Think about the challenges they faced and overcame to make a significant contribution; but also think about the possibilities they could have realized for the nation if they were valued as women, as black, and brilliant mathematicians. Diversity is about letting individual talents flourish to the improvement of organizations and ultimately society.
Roland V. Anglin is Dean of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. Dean Anglin is recognized for his scholarly and applied work in the area of economic and community development. Dean Anglin is a passionate advocate for public polices and community-based strategies that create social and economic opportunities for marginalized communities and people.
Prior to his appointment as Dean, Dr. Anglin was Senior Advisor to the Chancellor of Rutgers University-Newark and Director of the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, an applied research institute at the university. Dr. Anglin began his career at Rutgers University in 1987. He was recruited to the Ford Foundation in 1991, where he spent eight years. Dr. Anglin served first as the program officer responsible for community development and was promoted to Deputy Director for Community and Resource Development. After leaving the Ford Foundation in 1999, Dr. Anglin went to the Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation (Seedco), a community development financial intermediary. He is the author and co-author of four books and several peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Anglin sits on several public sector, nonprofit, and private sector boards. He received his doctorate from the University of Chicago, an MA from Northwestern University, and a BA from Brooklyn College (City University of New York).