Defining 'Black Excellence' in New Bedford: What is it and where can you find it?
NEW BEDFORD — The term "Black Excellence" has become a common phrase within the Black community recently, more so that BuyBlackNB’s inaugural gala is centered around highlighting the city for its strength regarding this specific phrase.
But what is Black Excellence?
“Black Excellence to me represents the empowerment of successful Black individuals and a community,” said Britney Ganeto, owner of New B Cleaning and volunteer coordinator for BuyBlackNB.
Ganeto said it reminds her of the Harlem Renaissance, a moment in time where folks were just on a rise by working together within the community to build the Black community to become successful.
“To me, Black Excellence shines a spotlight on the successes of the Black community,” said Samia Walker, executive director of EforAll. “Black Excellence is not a specific person or thing, it's a celebration of our culture. We were born Excellent, we are highlighting each other's Excellence and we are inspiring Exceptional Legacies.”
Kevin Rose Jr., whose company Unplugged Essentials was featured in JC Penney last year, said assigning his race or gender to himself motivates him to be counterproductive to pursue and focus more on being the best overall.
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“It defines an aspirational goal or mindset that is pursued or expressed to find personal and or professional success,” he said.
Joaquin Santos, a Fairhaven percussionist who has made a name for himself in the New Bedford area, said to him Black Excellence is about Black people walking in integrity, being a blessing to other ethnicities with no diversion.
Black Excellence within the New Bedford community
He especially sees Black Excellence in music and art, from such local role models as his father Jackie Santos, Pastor David Spencer, Armsted Christian, musician Rick Britto, Tavares brothers and musicians such as the Antunes Family.
“It is about empowering, inspiration, success, leadership which demonstrates every day from our Black community in New Bedford,” said Celia Brito, owner of Celia’s Boutique that has been located in downtown New Bedford for almost 20 years.
“It's about strong great vibes, great energy. We don't stop learning, but the more we know, the more we want. And then we share it, especially in this community.”
Brito said she observes so much Black Excellence especially from the leadership.
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For Blair Taylor — the new director of education and community at the Zeiterion Theatre — with only four months in New Bedford, she has been blown away by how community-driven the city is, especially the Black Excellence she sees on a daily basis.
“I am the daughter of retired foreign service officers. So whether it's stateside or international I haven’t received a warm welcome like this ever,” Taylor said.
Coming from Washington, D.C., in the last few months, Taylor said she has been awestruck by the meetings she has had with some of the community’s leaders.
“I find myself often saying that I want to be like you when I grow up,” she said with a laugh. “The level of dedication to whatever the interest is, is something that I have never seen as a collective unit in one city ever in my life.”
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Her role at the Zeiterion will be to authentically pay attention to what the needs of the different communities are and translate that into quality programming where people can see and feel themselves in the Z.
“Hell or high water on board to make sure that that is achieved,” she said.
“Everyone deserves to see themselves in their community. Point blank period. Whether it's arts, whether it's sports, whether it's politics, whether it's education, whether it could be the fishing industry, everyone deserves to see themselves. Everyone deserves to be validated.”
As for Black Excellence, Taylor said there is a certain level of transparency and authenticity that is there at all times within the Black community.
“When people meet someone who is Black or represents the African diaspora, they know that they're speaking to someone who was living and breathing their truth. And that is excellence,” she added.
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“I think it involves understanding progress over perfection. I think it involves giving grace and allowing grace for oneself.”
Taylor said there is a needle that needs to be moved to positively affect an entire group, which is part of Black Excellence which she sees actively happening every day in New Bedford.
Young entrepreneurs inspired by Black Excellence
“Within the New Bedford community there are a lot of people who exude Black Excellence and are not only thought leaders but have the proverbial boots on the ground trying to uplift and inspire others within the community to take action,” said Rose Jr.
Jaden Reyes, 23, owner of the BIPOC and inclusive stationery boutique Brown Suga at the Kilburn Mill, defines Black Excellence as challenging the confinements racism and prejudice shoved onto her community.
Luckily, in New Bedford, she has observed as a youth Black Excellence seen around every corner and every block — a reason she felt comfortable starting her own business.
“We rebuild, create and uplift each other. Whether in the small businesses or within the community Black Excellence shines in New Bedford,” she said.
She said the number one example would be the BuyBlackNB, because it is the most influential and leading organization showcasing excellence. “Each Black-owned business highlighted by BuyBlack is a testament to Black Excellence, even the organization itself is the epitome of Black Excellence,” she said.
Abriana Melo, owner of Bri’s Infinite Designs, and Etianna Nascimento, owner of E. Sweets have also been empowered by the work of BuyBlackNB.
“Due to BuyBlackNB there have been a lot of events encouraging the youth of New Bedford and the Black community. It has allowed us to express ourselves and be proud of who we are and the things we do,” Nascimento said, adding that many other organizations around New Bedford have helped her realize her potential, especially as an entrepreneur.
“I see it reflect within the New Bedford community in so many ways and on so many different levels. New Bedford has grown such a strong community of people who support each other and want to see each other do better in life and make better decisions."
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“To me, Black Excellence means an individual of the Black community has achieved a goal of theirs no matter how big or small," said Melo.
NAACP New Bedford, YWCA and EforAll SoCo, are also local organizations that have paved the way to help support and create Black Excellence as well.
“Those have kind of looked out for our organization, too,” said Justina Perry, founder of BuyBlackNB.
“The work that the YWCA and the NAACP was doing, I personally felt like between Gail Fortes (executive director) and LaSell Hall (Ex Oficio), they were probably the most supportive community leaders for this initiative that were able to support what we were doing.”
Perry also credits New Bedford Creative for being the first organization to support BuyBlackNB financially with their Wicked Cool Places grant.
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“Being eligible and receiving that grant, we were able to show what we could do,” Perry added. “The creative economy and the creative sector in New Bedford is pretty welcoming and has great funding right now.”
As Perry and her BuyBlackNB staff prepare for their inaugural Black Excellence gala on May 6, in the Harbor View Gallery of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the night will be all about celebrating Blackness and creating spaces of belonging for our community to reconnect joy — the next step in sustaining the organization.
“New Bedford is the first free city in the nation, yet we are left out of many history books across the nation,” said Ganeto.
“This will be an opportunity for us to not only highlight all the achievements and people that have been instrumental in this city that the nation has benefitted from. It also will hopefully inspire and empower other folks to want to be a part of this movement.”
Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Examples of 'Black Excellence' in New Bedford ahead of BuyBlackNB gala
