2008 Woodie Awards
Struggle leads to success
Speaker kicks off ethnic studies series
LaTasha Monique
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: News
The Ethnic Studies Program kicked off its presentation year with Doctor Willard Wright, a former Solano Community College employee who helped emphasize the importance of Feb. 5, also known as Super Tuesday.
Currently the chancellor of Yuba Community College district in Maryville, Calif. Wright is also the author of numerous articles on training mid-level managers in downsized corporations.
Growing up as a child of the sixties in Omaha Nebraska, Wright explains that he had his fair share of racial discrimination.
"It was a very difficult time, but we did," said Wright.
Even with a Bachelor's of Science degree in accounting from the University of Nebraska, a MBA in finance form Bradley University and finally his Ed. D in adult continuing education form Northern Illinois University, Wright explained that there still was "not much you could do as a colored man during those times."
When the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964, that outlawed the use of long time implemented Jim Crow laws of the south, Wright was finally able to land a job at Caterpillar where he worked as a quality technology manger for 32 years.
"Everything I did there, I was the first," said Wright explaining that he was the first African American to integrate into what was considered a white only working society.
Wright went on to further explain that the lack of African Americans in the workforce had nothing to do with intelligence but more with the condition of society during that time.
"My father was a college educated doctor," said Wright, "but he worked in a bank. That's how things were, it wasn't right but you had to survive it."
Wright passed around a tattered 103-year-old diploma that his grandfather had tucked away in an old chest found in the attic fifty years after his death.
"When my grandfather earned this degree, there were only forty-five stars on the American flag," said Wright.
Father of three, two of whom are doctors, Wright continually stressed the importance of higher education
Paying homage to SCC's former board of trustees president, Bill Thurston, Wright felt it more important to focus on the importance of voting than anything else.
"And if you think one vote doesn't count," challenged Wright, "how many votes did it take to get Osby
Davis in office? Just one," he finished.
Davis is the first African American mayor of Vallejo.
Wanting to make sure his audience was paying attention, Wright brought in CDs from his daughter who works at Universal Motown with major recording artist such as India Arie and Brian McKnight.
Wright gave out six CDs to those who could answer questions correctly about his presentation. When the CDs were gone, ESP program coordinator Sanford Wright handed out money.
14-year-old Universal Health Services high school student Garrett Lane won $5 and felt that the presentation was more than useful.
"It makes me want to do better stuff than what I've done before," he said.
Currently the chancellor of Yuba Community College district in Maryville, Calif. Wright is also the author of numerous articles on training mid-level managers in downsized corporations.
Growing up as a child of the sixties in Omaha Nebraska, Wright explains that he had his fair share of racial discrimination.
"It was a very difficult time, but we did," said Wright.
Even with a Bachelor's of Science degree in accounting from the University of Nebraska, a MBA in finance form Bradley University and finally his Ed. D in adult continuing education form Northern Illinois University, Wright explained that there still was "not much you could do as a colored man during those times."
When the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964, that outlawed the use of long time implemented Jim Crow laws of the south, Wright was finally able to land a job at Caterpillar where he worked as a quality technology manger for 32 years.
"Everything I did there, I was the first," said Wright explaining that he was the first African American to integrate into what was considered a white only working society.
Wright went on to further explain that the lack of African Americans in the workforce had nothing to do with intelligence but more with the condition of society during that time.
"My father was a college educated doctor," said Wright, "but he worked in a bank. That's how things were, it wasn't right but you had to survive it."
Wright passed around a tattered 103-year-old diploma that his grandfather had tucked away in an old chest found in the attic fifty years after his death.
"When my grandfather earned this degree, there were only forty-five stars on the American flag," said Wright.
Father of three, two of whom are doctors, Wright continually stressed the importance of higher education
Paying homage to SCC's former board of trustees president, Bill Thurston, Wright felt it more important to focus on the importance of voting than anything else.
"And if you think one vote doesn't count," challenged Wright, "how many votes did it take to get Osby
Davis in office? Just one," he finished.
Davis is the first African American mayor of Vallejo.
Wanting to make sure his audience was paying attention, Wright brought in CDs from his daughter who works at Universal Motown with major recording artist such as India Arie and Brian McKnight.
Wright gave out six CDs to those who could answer questions correctly about his presentation. When the CDs were gone, ESP program coordinator Sanford Wright handed out money.
14-year-old Universal Health Services high school student Garrett Lane won $5 and felt that the presentation was more than useful.
"It makes me want to do better stuff than what I've done before," he said.
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