Let’s Occupy the World, Starting with Ourselves!

By Sydney Bennett

Reflection: Black History Month Opening Ceremony with Brittney Cault of “Occupy the Hood”

Yesterday, being the first day of February, Saint Xavier kicked off their month long schedule of Black History Month events. This particular event hosted by Saint Xavier’s BSU, featured Brittney Gault, a leader of Occupy the Hood-Chicago.

The event started with a video clip and a reading of one of Gault’s poems. Gault, a graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a degree in Media Studies, started with a summary of her background. She talked about the many opportunities she had to hold leadership and service positions, before and after working a corporate job right after graduating. She talked about the rollercoaster of life after graduation, but gave hope about various opportunities that are available to graduates.

Gault passionately talked to the room of about 20 staff and students, about the purpose of Occupy the Hood, which was birthed from Occupy Wall Street and the various revolutions before that across the world. Gault describes wanting to re-define “Black Excellence”, quoted from one of rapper Jay Z’s songs. The four pillars of Occupy the Hood are teaching and enacting change within the community pertaining to education, housing, sustainability with fresh food options, and financial stewardship. She described the movement as trying to get back to the self-governing way of life that Booker T Washington wrote about.

Gault gave plenty of tips to the students in the audience and I made sure to take notes! So, I’ll share a few of quotes I saved from her speaking. “Education is the next civil rights movement.” She talked about the importance and power of education for all people and various types of learning that people can gain. Gault also advised the students to, “Start learning more about what is trending around you and tailor your skills to fit it.” She gave an example of a communication student learning that sustainable ways to use energy is trending. In response they obtain a job using their communication skills to promote and enhance that industry. She also said something that really stuck with me. “Leaders now are appointed and are not as connected to the current generation.” I had never thought about that, but most leaders of past movements were young and very much so apart of the movement. Today in many arenas we still have some of those same leaders and there are not enough young faces that can actually connect and understand our era.

We ended the event in a fun and interactive way. Gault had everyone in the room hold a mock community session where we had to “Occupy Saint Xavier”. Three problems were brought up from students and staff as well as proposed action. The problems brought up were the lack of student involvement to enact change, participation at events, and minority leadership. The solutions were specific ways for students work together more and encourage each other. There seemed to be progress made even from the students present at the event!

Last night reminded me of what college is all about. It’s a place where students come to learn, unite with others, network, and be encouraged to live up to their potential to create change. Let’s occupy the world, starting with ourselves!

Sydney Bennett is a junior from Chicago, Illinois. She is a Mass Communications major with minors in both Sociology and Art & Design. She is President of Ambassador's for Christ(AFC) and a member of their Gospel choir at Saint Xavier.