“I’m inspired by the tenacity and desire for freedom that my ancestors displayed. I’m also inspired by the fact that they weren’t allowed to read or write, but they did it anyway.”
California Assembly Representative for the 47th District San Bernardino, CA
Cheryl grew up in Pennsylvania with her two brothers and two loving parents who emphasized the values of compassion and fairness. She sees these values as guiding her work as an Assembly Representative, and underlying her personal interest in ensuring that K12 teachers, and so young people, understand the history of slavery in the US.
I had a lot of ethical values instilled in me as a child. My mother was a lifelong learner, and one of the lessons she taught me was how to treat people equally. When you treat people equally, it’s always a rewarding experience.
Being fair and taking care of people are some of the qualities that I carry in all aspects of my life. These values have guided me as a member of the California Assembly, where I represent the 47th District, which encompasses the cities of Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, and parts of San Bernardino, along with the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy. I put my values into action by ensuring that people come first. It is my job to be a voice for fairness and equity in the State Assembly. I’m here to serve the people of my communities.
Aside from my political position, I also bring my personal values to bear in theatrical work as a period actor, representing Harriet Tubman, who was born a slave and became an icon for her courage and strength to lead hundreds of enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad. It was over twenty years ago that I had my first opportunity to follow the Underground Railroad route, used by escaped slaves to reach freedom in northern states and Canada in the 19th century. I was so inspired that I researched and wrote ten full page articles in the newspaper Black Voice News.
The importance of sharing this life changing experience with others hit home soon thereafter, when a controversy about slavery erupted in the Fontana Unified School District. A teacher from the city of Fontana was featured on every major broadcast news station for teaching students that slavery was ‘fun’ and that Blacks would ‘still be in trees’ if they weren’t brought from Africa to America. This news report was a clear indication that the Superintendent of Schools from both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties had a serious problem.
Recognizing the importance of dispelling such myths, stereotypes, and derogatory perspectives in the education of our children, the Superintendents asked for my help. I agreed, and began to teach a workshop about slavery for both school districts. At the end of the workshop, the teachers wanted me to take them on an Underground Railroad Tour. I approached the school district personnel and members of the Board of Education, and they thought it was a great idea. The teachers who went on the tour had the chance to hold slave chains and read books written by former slaves that weren’t allowed to read or write. When they came back and made their presentations to the Board of Education, the members were deeply touched by the testimonies.
The teachers, parents, and administrators who took the tour with me were able to bring their personal experiences to bear on their teaching, and instill in the next generation a great respect and understanding of the injustices of slavery, how they learned to read and write despite the physical harm they suffered, and what they went through to reach freedom.
Learning about the history of slavery can help children understand how their actions and choices affect others. Studying this history should motivate students to treat others with fairness and compassion.
The annual Footsteps to Freedom Study Tour is ongoing. As a part of the tour, Cheryl will sometimes still perform a monologue as Harriet Tubman. Her costume, consisting of a skirt and blouse modeled after Tubman’s iconic portrait (soon to replace Andrew Jackson on the US $20 bill) and a pair of boots, is on display here.