"Sure, I grew up in a primarily white community with white parents, but I'm still Black," said Soule. if you didn't grow up eating collard greens or you didn't listen to this type of music artist - are you 'really' Black? I genuinely think there's this misunderstanding like.
"The biggest thing that stands out to me is the narrative around what being Black means. Some of that work included forming a safe space where people could come together and speak on experienced racial injustices with legitimately open-ended conversations.Įven after graduating from Boston College last May and transferring to Virginia Tech, those are the same conversations Soule would love to continue, particularly the discussions on what it means to be Black.Īnd those lessons aren't just for white people. It wasn't until her freshman year of high school that she started taking the sport seriously and ultimately ended up getting an offer to play Division I basketball at Boston College.Įven while pursuing a basketball career, Soule participated in programs aimed at student-athletes working to create diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus. Through all the learning and growing, Soule found basketball as her true love in a multitude of different sports ventures, including tennis, soccer, gymnastics, and even karate. Our parents were always supportive, educational, and helpful in learning and understanding our history, even if they didn't experience it themselves." It was nice having my younger sister because we kind of went through it together. "So, we always knew we were different from kids around us, but it was always in a positive type of manner. "My mom especially made a really big effort with adoption books or stories about our hair and what made it special," Soule said. However, perhaps their biggest lesson growing up was the fact that it's okay to be different. Instead of running away from the subject of race, Soule's mother made a conscientious effort to highlight the beauty of her daughters as Black women.
Two Black kids growing up in a small town within a predominantly white community served as its own teaching tool for Soule and her sister. Soule was born in Chicago, but she grew up in New Hampshire with her adoptive parents and younger sister. "For the last 23 years of my life, just growing up and talking to people about what it means to be Black - what that looks like, what that feels like - it's nice to be heard and understood a little bit, even if it's difficult for people to fully comprehend without really experiencing the same things." "I think it shouldn't just be talked about during the month of February, but it's still a great opportunity for Black people to tell their stories and be heard while also giving other people the opportunity to ask questions and have open and honest conversations. "I think Black history, in general, is a really important narrative to talk about," said Soule. The very premise of Black History Month is spending the entire month of February paying homage and respect to African Americans for past and present contributions to society, despite facing years of racism and inequalities.īut why should a period of respect and understanding of that magnitude be limited to only one month? That's the very question Virginia Tech women's basketball forward Taylor Soule is still racking her brain, trying to figure out.
#Dead or alive 5 last round ost series
We are reminded in this series that athletics serves as a great equalizer and provides an aspirational narrative and opportunity for all. We continue the series with Virginia Tech women's basketball student-athlete Taylor Soule. As part of Virginia Tech Athletics' celebration of Black History Month, the department will be sharing compelling stories of its staff and their amazing accomplishments throughout the month.
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