The black leaders inspiring DofE Youth Ambassadors
Black History Month is not only a time to honour the contributions of black leaders throughout history, but also to reflect on how their legacies continue to inspire and shape us today. DofE Youth Ambassadors Christopher and Amanda share their personal connections to these historical figures and discuss how these black leaders have influenced their own paths.
Throughout history, many black leaders have shaped the world through their resilience, courage, and contribution to social justice. One of my greatest heroes is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His ability to inspire change through nonviolent protest and his unwavering commitment to equality have had a profound impact on me. From a young age, I learned about Dr. King’s role in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly his leadership during the Montgomery Bus Boycott and his historic “I Have a Dream” speech. My earliest memory of Dr. King was when I heard his famous speech in school, and it stuck with me. It was the first time I truly understood the power of words and how they can galvanize a community toward justice. His dream wasn’t just about the civil rights of black Americans but a vision of equality for all marginalised groups.
Dr. King’s principles have influenced my own aspirations of leadership. He embodied a balance of passion, patience, and strategy—qualities that I strive to emulate in my work, whether it’s advocating for youth as a DofE UK Youth Ambassador or working in other leadership roles. His belief in the power of community and collective action is something that resonates with me, as I aim to contribute to change through education, theatre, and business.
Dr. Martin Luther King has profoundly shaped who I am today. His commitment to fighting injustice with both courage and compassion is something that continues to inspire my journey and fuels my desire to create positive change.
Growing up I was taught about the Black Lives Matter movement, because of this and my ethnic background as an East Asian, I learned about many black heroes throughout history.
One of my favourite heroes was Maya Angelou. She was a poet and civil rights activist and the first poem that I took seriously in my English class. The poem I read was also an autobiography called I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This is one of her most popular autobiographies showing her early life, racism and the sexual abuse she faced, and it was nominated for the National Book Award and has sold millions of copies.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a powerful and beautiful metaphor, but for a year 9, I interpreted it as black people fighting against oppression. Although this was true, it meant so much more to me than that. This poem was the reason I started loving English literature because when you look at this metaphor in a different light and start changing the perspective of the cage it could represent a fight for freedom for yourself. For example, when I think broadly about school, it’s harder to be yourself and you force yourself to act and be someone else so you’re not alone which is that cage. I also thought of the cage as myself. I stop myself from getting my freedom. I beat myself up for the smallest mistakes and restrict myself like a bird. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a personal fight to me. Where I purposefully restrict myself to others’ standards and blame myself. Maya Angelou’s past is truly admirable. Despite enduring numerous hardships at a young age, she bounced back and created art using words.
Because of her poems, I became interested in diversity in poetry during GCSE English Literature. Even though I preferred maths over English, learning about people fighting for their identity in society through poetry was interesting and made me enjoy this artistic side of calling for action and about myself.
Even though I’m not black, my own identity is precious, and I shouldn’t let others stop me. Which is what Maya Angelou was fighting for herself.
