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n August 1991, my parents packed the car
for my departure for band camp at Jackson
State University in Jackson, Mississippi. I
had dreamt of this day since the age of 6.The
extended hours of mastering the trombone
had afforded me an opportunity to try out for
the famous Jackson State University Sonic
Boom of the South Marching Band. My
parents spent three hours helping me
move my items into the residence hall, and
then departed for Mobile. Here I was, on
the campus of a historically black college,
founded in 1877 for former enslaved Africans
to be educated. I was following my father’s
footsteps by attending Jackson State, his alma
mater, with my father’s full name. Now I was
on campus early to try out for the marching
band that had a legacy of musical excellence
and showmanship.
I made sure I was at the band room at 30
minutes early because I did not want to be
late. As the 100-plus freshmen filed into
the band room, I thought to myself, “All of
these kids are here just like I am. We want
so much to be a part of this legacy. I have
to do what it takes to be a part of it.” As the
band room settled, the drum majors and
section leaders entered the room, followed
by the band directors. The air literally left
the room. The drum majors talked to us
about the legacy of the band program and
Jackson State University, and how it was
up to us to maintain the legacy. Each band
director reiterated what the drum majors
had stated. One band director stated two
crucial things: “We will teach you how to
maintain and sustain the legacy of this band
program. But I am here to tell you, some of
you will not meet the criteria or standards
to keep up with the legacy already in place.
Some of you will not make this band.”
For a second, like everyone in the room, my
heart dropped to my toes. I quickly snapped
out of that brief depression. I knew that I
had come from a family of great legacy on
my paternal and maternal sides. I grew up in
an Episcopal Church in Mobile, Alabama,
founded in 1854 by free people of color
and former enslaved Africans before the
Emancipation Proclamation was signed. I
attended and graduated from Murphy High
School, the oldest high school in the state
of Alabama, built on legacy and tradition
and, now, I was enrolled at Jackson State
University, Mississippi’s only comprehensive
urban university, founded in 1877. I
understood the importance of legacy.
I did make the famous Jackson State
University marching band, as well as become
the trombone section leader my sophomore,
junior, and senior years in college.Within one
year, the shoe was on the other foot. I taught
the incoming freshmen the importance of
sustaining the legacy.
How do you teach and sustain a positive
legacy? First, the legacy must live within you.
You must eat, breathe and live the legacy.
You must always be the shining example of
the legacy. Second, every moment must be
a teaching moment. I learned this from my
mother. Always reiterate and reinforce the
who, what, when, where, and how, regarding
the legacy.
I aminvolved in several boards and community
outreach programs throughout the city
of Mobile. I often find that organizations
(nonprofits, churches, etc.) deviate from
their core principals and/or positive legacies.
It is important for organizations to always
reiterate the legacy piece to their members.
There are times when a negative legacy can
infiltrate any organization or institution.
But the great thing about legacy is you can
turn a negative into a positive. One person
can make a difference and change the course
of their organization, community, state, the
nation and the world. Be that legacy!!!
Carl Cunningham Jr., Ph.D., is in Student Support
Services at Faulkner State Community College. He is
a native of Mobile, Alabama, and is a graduate of the
Mobile County Public School System. Carl serves as
an advisor for the Mobile Leadership Development
League, a program for young men in grades 9-12.
Twitter: @DrSetitOff
Shaping, Guiding
and Embodying Legacy
CArL CuNNiNGHAM Jr.