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February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate and reflect on the contributions of Black Americans throughout history. As Administrator Carnahan stated in her message last week, we all have roles to play in advancing racial justice. Within OCFO, we are committed to supporting the administration’s initiatives to advance racial equity; help revitalize underserved communities and businesses; and ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in our workforce.
I encourage you to seek out stories of Black change agents. One of my favorites is about the Tuskegee Airmen, who were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces. They served in a segregated Army Air Forces (the predecessor of today’s Air Force) and faced discrimination, both within and outside of the Army. The late Brigadier General Charles E. McGee was one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen at the time of his death last month at the age of 102. Despite the challenges he faced, McGee carried out more than 400 combat missions during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. This extraordinary service and dedication to “rising to the moment” is truly an inspiration to me.
I would like to invite our own teammates to share stories of their Black history, identity, struggles, and triumphs. We will share these stories through the Week in Review newsletter throughout February. First up, a story from FAS Regional Support Group Branch Chief Zakiya Zaid this week. If you are interested in sharing your story, please reach out to Mia Drane-Maury, communications specialist in the OCFO front office. We would love to hear from you.
GSA's Blacks in Government will host a virtual celebration in recognition of Black History Month on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. Eastern. Each year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History establishes the national Black History Month theme. This year’s theme is Black Health and Wellness. I plan to attend this session and hope that you will join me there.
Please learn more about GSA’s commitment to creating a workplace that is representative of the many segments of society and that works for all Americans, including through the newly launched Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Community of Practice.
Respectfully,
Mehul
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