Dear Black Issues:
I am writing this letter in response to the feature story on young African American scholars in the Jan. 3 issue. I thoroughly enjoyed this publication. In fact, this particular edition was my introduction to Black Issues, which I had never read. I would like to briefly share the impact reading this issue had on my life.
While visiting my friend in Washington, she passed on a copy of this issue to me and brought attention to one scholar who was doing research on Spanish-speaking persons of African descent, which is a personal area of interest. I read the entire issue and was at once struck by the breadth of accomplishments and research interests reflected by the subjects of the feature article.
I was further affected by the statistics on doctoral production in the pages that followed. My first thought was “Wow, these men and women are impressive!” My second thought was “I can do this, too!” That was the weekend of Feb. 8. On March 4, I submitted one application to a doctoral program and held my breath. On March 9, I received an acceptance letter! In the fall of this year I will begin doctoral studies in medical anthropology with a concentration in urban health at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
Thank you, Black Issues, for bringing attention to the need for African American scholars and for showcasing some of the people who have already answered “the call.” I intend to do my part to continue the legacy of Black scholarship in the United States and abroad.
Sincerely,
Jewel M. Hagood
Euclid, Ohio
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