Mrs. Belcher was one of the most influential teachers I ever had. She was a part of the institution at South Carolina State University, and everyone knew who she was. But I didn’t. The Business School was named in honor of her husband. She taught Martin Luther King Junior in a public speaking class at Morehouse College. She knew famous people from the Harlem Renaissance, but she only spoke of those things in the context she thought was appropriate. After taking two of her English classes that she pushed me to obtain straight A’s in, I came to appreciate her more. I signed up for two electives with her. A class in theater history and a black film and drama class.

Those classes were so fun. I became so interested in Black film and art. She had us studying the acting of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. We also learned about African Americans on Broadway. I never knew about the impact African American actors even had on Broadway. Today, I still read about those actors and delve into the old films of Paul Robeson, Cicely Tyson, and others. Mrs. Belcher saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself, that it was OK to be the class pet, that it was OK to make straight A’s, that you could still be cool and be an honors English major. I learned to be like her: modest, humble, and helpful. I’m also small, petite, and energetic, just like her. Thank you, Mrs. Belcher.