BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 On Monday, Bakersfield College hosted two events highlighting the African American community in unique ways.<\/p>\n
Each event showed statements of strength, support and constant progress.\u00a0BC held the inaugural \u201cTribute to Black Military Service Members,\u201d one of its Black History Month Events, in which service members were posted across Veterans Plaza on campus.<\/p>\n
Lt. Col. Tunson, a speaker and professor, served in the U.S. Army in the 80s and vividly remembers the challenges he had to overcome while training in the South.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t understand when they said you can\u2019t go to certain restaurants, you can\u2019t go to certain parts of town because of the discrimination, I mean picture the guy from California and being told they couldn\u2019t go into certain places because of their skin color,\u201d said Lt. Col. Tommy Tunson, a professor at BC.<\/p>\n
A reminder of the hardships African American men and women serving in the military faced in decades past, that students can apply in their lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be authentic and to be themselves. To keep going and show that resilience, through any struggle that you have, and these people are a perfect example of resiliency through adversity,\u201d said Jenny Frank, Veterans Service and Program Manager.<\/p>\n
Following the event, Bakersfield College celebrated its recognition as a Black Serving Institution, one of just 31 California college and universities with this designation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a huge deal for the college, it\u2019s a huge deal for the community too. So that they know while we serve all students and appreciate diversity, we\u2019re also being intentional about the work we put in for our black and African American prospective and current students,\u201d said Cesar Jimenez, Vice President of Student Services.<\/p>\n
An important acknowledgment, but not a reason to stop pushing for change.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe word of caution for something like this is we haven\u2019t arrived anywhere, I see this as more of a call to action. We recognize we have a significant proportion of black and African American students, so now the question is what can we do better as an institution to better serve them,\u201d said Interim President, Stacy Pfluger.<\/p>\n
An overall day of celebration, with an undertone of remembrance and betterment.<\/p>\n
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