DTU JOURNAL ENTRY 1: HONORED TO JOIN THE LEGACY OF THE BLACK PRESS

Alexa Imani Spencer (NNPA/DTU Journalism Fellow)

Earliest this month, I spent two days in Detroit that served as my introduction to the NNPA “Discover The Unexpected” (DTU) Journalism Fellowship program. The DTU program will be my first professional experience with the Black Press. The trip was unlike any other in my life. It was spiritual. It was moving. In many ways, it was unexpected.

In our first moment of being united in Detroit, the fellows quickly established a unique and powerful bond. We all attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), so it was natural for us to engage in conversation around the presence of Blackness in the media. There was a collective understanding that, as storytellers, we must strive to uplift and amplify our narrative. We owe it to our community to ensure that our truth is heard. Looking around at each of the student scholars, I felt in my spirit just how powerful this program is. It brought together eight young, Black journalists committed to the preservation of our truth. Never before had I been a part of such a force; and this was only the beginning.

Following the welcome reception, the DTU fellows were sent on a scavenger hunt to different establishments around the city. In teams, we cruised the streets in the new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, which we will use during the program for transportation to and from assignments. Our last location in the hunt was the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History. Upon arrival, I gazed at the architecture with a strong sense of déjà vu; it looked so familiar, yet I was sure I had never been before. Then it hit me. My professor, Dr. Greg Carr, chair of the Afro-American Studies department at Howard University, had urged students to visit the museum in one of his lectures last fall. Ashe (pronounced “Ah-shay”), I had finally made it.

The entire museum was designed to foster a connection between African ancestors and their descendants. The exhibits marked a painful journey in which we are still recovering from—enslavement. We were led by a tour guide from the shores of Africa, through the Middle Passage, and onto American soil. Audio, artifacts, and life-sized mannequins replicated some of the most gruesome aspects of our captivity. Heartache filled the room. Some of us were moved to tears. We held hands, leaned on one another, and gave hugs of support. In exiting the exhibit, I gained a much deeper understanding of what my ancestors went through. Their bodies, minds, and spirits were brutalized. And for that, I owe them my utmost effort toward healing, empowering, and preserving our community.

The last day of the trip is when I became fully invested in the “Discover The Unexpected” program. During a meeting held in a conference room at the General Motors (GM) headquarters, representatives of DTU gave speeches, setting expectations and highlighting the importance of the program. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the NNPA, Michelle Alexander, the diversity marketing manager for GM, and Constance R. Thomas, the diversity marketing events coordinator for GM, each reminded us of our duty to the Black Press, to our HBCUs, and above all, to our community. We listened attentively with excitement. Quiet and eager, I pledged in my mind to put my very, best foot forward for the next two months. It’s an honor to be joining the legacy of the Black Press in its 190th year. I will add to it, only with pride and positivity, as I “discover the unexpected.”

Alexa Imani Spencer is a 2017 NNPA “Discover The Unexpected” Journalism Fellow and a student at Howard University. This summer, Alexa is writing for The Washington Informer, a member newspaper of the NNPA. Follow Alexa on Twitter @Alexa_Imani.