If you see me at a luncheon or a fancy restaurant with my elbows off the table, dinner napkin in my lap and coffee cup turned upside down; thank The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. for teaching me the proper way to eat in public.
I was two weeks into my freshman year at North Central High School when I met my mentor who would become the woman that changed my life. There were two things she put in my hands in August 1996 that helped me become the woman I am today: a copy of Jill Nelson’s “Volunteer Slavery: My Authentic Negro Experience” and an application to join NC100BW.
“Volunteer Slavery” chronicled Nelson’s time as the first Black women to write for the Washington Post’s Sunday Magazine. I learned that to succeed in this field, I needed to be authentic and always seek out the truth.
However, the lessons I learned while involved with NC100BW I carry with me everyday as well. As the group celebrates its 30th anniversary, I reflect on the Saturday morning programs I was involved in and how I would be in awe of the Black women that stood before me. It wasn’t what they did for a living that amazed me, but the fact that on a day usually reserved for running errands, catching up on housework or spending time with their children, they were taking the time to talk to me and teach me. On those Saturday mornings I learned how invaluable giving back actually is.
I was pretty shy the first few meetings, but as I got comfortable and began interacting, I really opened up. I learned how to make friends with girls who didn’t live in my neighborhood. It was the first time I was around girls who actually liked going to school and like me, knew what they wanted to be when they grew up. They were even making plans to achieve such goals. It was very refreshing and eye opening.
In addition to etiquette, I learned how to fill out a job application and how to present myself in a job interview. I vividly remember a field trip we took to Kmart where volunteers showed us how to shop for essentials like toothpaste. We were taught to look at how much product you would be receiving for the cost and how to distinguish between a good deal and a bad one. It seemed pointless to me at the time but now that I am married with a son, I utilize that lesson each time I’m at Target or Kroger.
I’m grateful for these lessons. I hope members of NC100BW can look at me and know how important their work is.
