Anthony Malick Smith '19 (Justin Knight)
During his time at Boston College, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship winner Anthony Smith 鈥�19 has demonstrated a faith-based resiliency and inner strength, as well as the scholarly mien befitting a student of history.
During freshman year, he recalls, he found himself feeling 鈥渄isconnected鈥� from 51茶馆, as one of relatively few students of color in his Newton Campus residence hall. So Smith did what he does best. He looked inward, then moved forward.
鈥淚 reflected on what I wanted, from 51茶馆 and most of all from myself,鈥� says Smith, a Waltham native whose parents were born in Haiti. 鈥淓ven if things hadn鈥檛 quite worked out like I鈥檇 thought, I realized I still had the chance to accomplish what I鈥檇 come to 51茶馆 for; I needed to make the best of it.鈥�
Smith found people to give him support and advice, and sought out 鈥� or even helped create 鈥� resources and opportunities that contributed to his intellectual and personal growth. Most of all, he鈥檚 relied on his faith.
鈥淎ll aspects of life interconnect,鈥� he says, 鈥渁nd faith has always been at the center, leading me on.鈥�
His faith, along with other qualities, has led Smith to the MLK Scholarship, presented annually to a Boston College junior who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service and involvement with the African American community and African American issues. Smith received the honor at the Feb. 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Banquet. 聽聽
鈥淚t was overwhelming, but also a milestone,鈥� he says of the event. 鈥淚 feel the MLK Scholarship is a platform for advocacy, but it is not mine alone: It is shared by the other four finalists [Angela Arzu, Omolayo Ojurongbe, Evan Palmer and Bryan Paula Gonzalez]. And it is shared by my family, who have sacrificed so much for me to be at 51茶馆. We all represent leadership in different ways.聽
鈥淣ow, of course, the question becomes 鈥榃hat鈥檚 next?鈥� That鈥檚 a challenging thing to think about, but I鈥檓 very excited for what鈥檚 next.鈥� 聽
A double major in history and African and African Diaspora Studies (the first independent AADS major to add a second major), Smith is a member of the McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, which prepares low-income, first-generation undergraduates for graduate school.
Smith鈥檚 academic interests center on history at the intersection of race and sexuality, with a focus on gathering different, nuanced perspectives to illuminate both major historical events and periods as well as everyday life.聽
鈥淲hen you study the impact of slavery, or racism, it鈥檚 not enough to take one overall view,鈥� he explains. 鈥淵ou have to compare the experiences of black men with those of black women, because they are not interchangeable.鈥澛�
The History Department has been a nurturing environment for Smith, who cites faculty members like Martin Summers and Cynthia Lynn Lyerly for their advice and encouragement. He points to the Making History Public class taught by Robin Fleming, which involved creating a public exhibition based on the class research project, as a foundational experience.
鈥淭hat class helped me think of myself as an historian, instead of simply a student,鈥� he says. 聽聽
Smith put his scholarly talents to use through an Amanda V. Houston Traveling Fellowship last year, visiting New York City, Chicago and Washington, DC, to do research on dominant cultural representations of black masculinity 鈥� 鈥渉ow we create and define ourselves against stereotypes.鈥澛�
鈥淚鈥檝e been fortunate to both teach Anthony in the classroom and to advise him on his research funded by the Amanda V. Houston Traveling Fellowship,鈥� said Summers. 鈥淎nthony works really hard to be the best scholar that he can be and it鈥檚 been an absolute pleasure to work with him. Along with his commitment to supporting and mentoring other students of color and first generation students, I can鈥檛 think of anyone more deserving of the MLK Scholarship.鈥�
Smith has taken part in several extracurricular and service activities, including the Jamaica Magis service trip and the AHANA Leadership Council. His most significant commitments include his involvement in Dedicated Intellectuals of the People (DIOP), a weekly gathering of male AHANA students to discuss social, intellectual and spiritual issues: 鈥淚t鈥檚 an important space to talk about being a man. We challenge each other, hold each other accountable.鈥澛�
Another is the First Generation Club, an organization he co-founded that brings together first-generation college students to discuss, and improve, their campus experiences.
鈥淲e have a diverse group,鈥� he says of the First Generation Club. 鈥淎lthough no single experience or background defines a first-generation college student, there are things we share. You take pride in being the first, but you can feel insecure, especially when it comes to contributing in the classroom. You have to navigate by yourself, and learn to self-advocate. And you can be tough on yourself, and often feel there鈥檚 little or no room to make a mistake.
鈥淚 feel like the club is an extension of Dr. King鈥檚 dream, where students of different identities and beliefs come together. And it鈥檚 made clear to me that every human is made in the image and likeness of God.鈥�
Smith says he鈥檚 been 鈥渁damant about going to law school since I was 12,鈥� but serving as a teaching assistant and taking part in 51茶馆鈥檚 service-learning PULSE Program, among other experiences, has broadened his horizons 鈥� a combined PhD/JD program is one post-51茶馆 possibility.
鈥淚 feel 51茶馆 is, in many respects, a microcosm of the real world,鈥� he says. 鈥淪o I鈥檝e been able to get a sense of what I have to do to understand myself, and the importance of advocating for others. It鈥檚 been a great opportunity, and I have my family to thank for making it possible.鈥�
Sean Smith | University Communications