By Von C. Howard
Special to The Westside Gazette
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL —When people say superhero, most imagine someone with laser vision or the strength to lift cars. But those of us who came up in the heart of South Florida’s Black communities — in Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach, and Pompano Beach — we know the real superheroes don’t wear spandex.
They wore sensible shoes, grade books, and chalk dust. Their capes were invisible, but their powers? Unmistakable.
They were — and are — our Black educators. The ones who walked into underfunded and overcrowded classrooms and walked out having changed a life. Who didn’t just teach lessons, but gave them — in truth, in love, and in legacy.
Their powers weren’t fantasy. They were real, sacred, and soul-deep. And today, we name them.
*Legacy Builders: The Power of Vision and Creation
Superpowers: Vision-Casting, Culture-Weaving, System-Breaking
Our Legacy Builders were dreamers with dirt under their nails — architects of possibility who carved paths through brick walls.
Icons like Dr. Joseph A. Ely, Blanche Ely, and Clarence C. Walker, Sr. possessed the extraordinary power of Vision-Casting. They didn’t just imagine better schools — they built them, often from nothing, planting institutions where neglect once stood.
Their superpower was Culture-Weaving: instilling Black pride, academic rigor, and community strength in every hallway and lesson. These schools didn’t just educate; they healed, affirmed, and lifted.
And they were System-Breakers. In a time when everything was designed to exclude us, they made space — not just for access, but for excellence.
Champions of Change: The Power of Resilience and Righteous Defiance
Superpowers: Barrier-Breaking, Emotional Alchemy, Righteous Defiance
The Champions of Change stood tall during one of the most complex transitions in education history: integration.
Cato Roach, James Jones, Art Kennedy, William Dandy, Charles Morton, Sr., and Kathleen C. Wright were Barrier-Breakers. They moved through locked doors and turned marginalization into leadership.
They had the power of Emotional Alchemy — taking fear, pain, and loss, and transforming it into courage, compassion, and direction for their students.
And they embodied Righteous Defiance: fighting institutions that tried to erase Black excellence and demanding dignity when it was politically dangerous to do so.
They didn’t just adapt. They preserved us in the process.
My Village: The Power of Presence and Personal Transformation
Superpowers: Soul-Reading, Truth-Telling, Life-Shaping
I was raised by a village of educators whose greatest gift was their Presence — the power to make a child feel seen, valued, and capable.
Uncle Sylvester R. Howard wielded the power of Commanding Purpose. His mere presence said: You will rise, and I will not let you settle.
Uncle Kenneth C. Howard carried Guiding Light, helping young men and women navigate identity, dignity, and dreams.
My wife, Bridgette Howard, has the rare and holy power of Whole-Child Seeing. She doesn’t just teach; she understands — every fear, every hope, every hidden gift which also resonates to our children at home in everything that they do.
And then there were the everyday giants:
Mrs. Wilhelmina Jakes Street had Literacy as Liberation — teaching me to read, and with it, to believe in myself.
Mr. Ben “Mr. Fantastic” Williams radiated Integrity Shield — his character protected, inspired, and corrected.
Educators like Mrs. Jackie Box, Coach Butch Ingram, Coach Otis Gray, Coach Marcia Pinder, Mrs. Shirley Ward, Mrs. Maye Jenkins, Ms. Brenda Brown, and Mrs. Shirley Baker to name a few, each carried superpowers like:
Empathic Strength: the ability to feel your struggle and push you anyway.
Moral Compass Mastery: knowing exactly when to challenge and when to comfort.
Spiritual Anchoring: grounding students in values that outlast any lesson plan.
They shaped more than students. They shaped souls.
Today’s Educators: The Power of Continuity and Cultural Legacy
Superpowers: Hope-Holding, Mirror-Reflecting, Torch-Carrying
The new generation of Black educators steps into classrooms with the echoes of ancestors behind them and the eyes of future leaders in front of them.
They possess Hope-Holding — believing in every child’s future, even when the odds say otherwise.
They’re Mirror-Reflectors, showing students — especially Black children — a reflection of brilliance, worth, and leadership.
And they are Torch-Carriers, honoring the legacy they’ve inherited and expanding it with creativity, technology, and innovation.
These heroes include:
Dr. Eric Miller – with Strategic Compassion, turning empathy into policy.
Coach Rodney Gray – with Purpose Coaching, transforming sports into character.
Mr. Frank Pinkney – the Steady Flame who never lets the light go out.
Mr. Kervens Jackson – the Bridge Builder across cultures and languages.
Ms. Natasha Barr-Allen – Balanced Justice, giving both structure and care.
Mrs. Cormic Priester – Growth Gardener, nurturing minds like sacred soil.
Mr. Chad Walker – Quiet Power, whose example speaks louder than words.
Dr. Kwan Drake – Equity Engineer, redesigning fairness from the inside out.
Dr. Brittany Lee-Wright – Advocacy Alchemist, turning obstacles into outcomes.
They are the present. And they are preparing the future.
A Celebration of Service: Que Boogaloo 2025
To honor these living legends and legacy-carriers, the Zeta Chi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. proudly invites you to:
Que Boogaloo 2025: Boots on the Ground Edition
️ Saturday, June 7, 2025
Mikki’s Speakeasy, 7700 W. McNab Road, North Lauderdale, FL 33068
️ Tickets: $20.00
This is more than an event. It’s a tribute to those who walked into battle every school day with nothing but a lesson plan and love.
It’s a celebration of superpowers in plain clothes.
Final Reflection: The Cape Is Ours Now
To every Black educator — in every era, every zip code, every classroom — thank you.
You gave us more than education. You gave us ourselves.
You turned pain into purpose. Doubt into direction. You didn’t just open doors — you held them until we could walk through with pride.
And now, it’s our turn.
We, your students, wear the cape now. Not because we’re perfect. But because we were prepared.
Let us mentor like you. Teach like you. Fight like you. Love like you.
Because your superpowers didn’t fade when you retired.
They live on — in us.