“Affirmative action is flawed. It needs to be fixed,” Dr. Gloria Morrow tells listeners at the Black History Month closing ceremony. “But without it, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Morrow heard a lot of “Amens,” but they didn’t stop her from talking. As guest speaker at the Black History Month closing ceremony, she connected with the audience on topics past, present and future.

Morrow, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology, used her experiences as a “plain old everyday common person” to tell listeners about progress in the nation’s race relations and some of the hurdles still to be overcome.

The closing ceremony was one of several Black History Month activities coordinated by the Black Employment Program (BEP) Committee and its manager, Lynnette Coachman. This year marked the second year BEP sponsored the events.

“ The Black History Month program is only one segment of BEP,” Coachman said. “We also assist management in identifying under-representation in specific occupational groups to promote the district’s emphasis of recruitment, promotion and retention. We work diligently to encourage more participation from employees. We succeed in making the events educational and enlightening for all Corps employees.”

To that end, BEP organized a presentation on career advancement. “It stayed within the theme of educating,” Coachman said. “These venues can be useful training tools not just for special emphasis programs, but for the district overall. It’s a team effort.”

Morrow also included the team effort theme in her remarks. “If you ever want to move up in the world,” she said, “don’t think you’ll do it by yourself. You better bring some people with you.”

“ Amen!”

For nearly 100 years after the abolition of slavery, many blacks sought people of influence to bring with them, people who could effect the changes that the nation’s Constitution promised.

“ Even though the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in 1865, it didn’t end,” Morrow said. “Attitudes didn’t change, nor did mindsets. Slaves had shackles removed from their feet, but not from their psyche.”

“ Amen!”

The impact on blacks’ psyche continued in spite of some well-intentioned efforts. “Because black children were bused to white schools, rather than improve schools in the black community,” Morrow said, “they were often left with the impression that ‘Where you are isn’t good enough.’”

That ideation was fine for some who, contrary to the Constitution, claimed “segregation at school merely prepared black children for segregated life thereafter.”

Morrow went straight to the heart of that argument. “When learning is impeded for black kids,” she said, “it’s impeded for you, too. It affects everyone’s experience.”

“ Martin Luther King said that none of us will be free until all of us are free. His dream made sense then, and it makes sense now,” Morrow told the audience.

“ Amen!”