Dr. Booker T. Ingram, Jr. Convocation Recap
By: Mohammad Rasasi

As we’re saying goodbye to February (and Black History Month), it’s nice to think back over all the things Presbyterian College did to show appreciation. One such event is the convocation on February 12th, 2025, commemorating our very own Dr. Booker T. Ingram, a former political science professor. We also got to experience an amazing presentation led by guest speaker Dr. Tonya Matthews, CEO of the International African American Museum, who detailed important aspects of the museum and discussed the significance of African American history and what the museum does to help immortalize it.
Everyone was curious about what the museum entails, and Matthews happily obliged by regaling us with stories of African slaves reshaping Carolinian soil to grow rice, Black women fighting for equal pay and rights in labor movements, and even interesting exhibits, such as a bullet that was inside a Black man’s chest for decades after encountering a public shooting and was later donated to the museum to showcase its history. After all the questions were done, we got to hear a beautiful rendition of “Rise Up” to end the presentation. Overall, an amazing ceremony that I’m forever grateful to be a part of.