YSU graduate represents Ohio in America250

“History is the stories you read and the ones you write.” Photo by John Ostapowicz

By Nicarlyle Hanchard / Jambar Contributor

Dante Bernard, a Youngstown State University graduate and museum educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, is one of two Ohio representatives on the Youth250 Bureau.
In response to the honor, Bernard said it’s exciting to represent Youngstown’s historical values and help showcase the city’s experiences on a national level.
“To be able to bring some history from around here [and] beyond — not just the city, but the state — is a really cool opportunity,” Bernard said. “A lot of the history that lives in Youngstown applies to pretty much everywhere else in the country.”
Amy Fluker, associate professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and chair of the Reeder Endowment in History at YSU, said Bernard’s position on the bureau emphasizes the aim of the history department.
“It shows exactly what we prepare our students to do in the YSU history program — provide them opportunities for community engagement — bringing history outside of the classroom and using it to enrich the quality of life in our communities,” Fluker said.
Bernard said the bureau serves to encourage young people’s participation in the celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
“America250 events are probably going to be skewed toward adults, [but] young people have just as much right to celebrate and be a part of the celebrations,” Bernard said.
Traci Manning, the curator of education at MVHS, emphasized the importance of diverse voices during the celebrations.
“A phrase that I often use is, ‘A shared history is not always a shared memory’ — people can look back at the same event and remember it in very different ways,” Manning said. “American history is not always fun and happy, and it is important to share the elements that are difficult in the hopes that we can learn from the past to create a better future.”
Bernard said history is important for young people to learn and observe for perseverance of stories.
“The most important thing for this is reading and learning about people’s stories who have come before you,” Bernard said. “No matter how far back you look in human history, people have always felt that [the event] that happened is going to be the end of us, but we can look back to how they overcame their struggles.”
Fluker said history is the foundation of our identity and young people should be interested for that reason.
“We live in the world that the past made. We can’t escape it, and so we have to understand it in order to better understand one another and be able to move forward,” Fluker said. “As individuals, as communities, as a nation, it’s at the heart of who we are, so we can’t ignore that. We have to come to terms with it, learn and be honest about it.”
Fluker said the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is important for all Americans, especially Generation Z.
“The freedoms and liberties that we enjoy today are built on the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States,” Fluker said. “We wouldn’t have that without the beautiful ideas of the revolution a century before that.”
Although 250 years is a great milestone for America, Bernard said there are multiple layers to celebrating America250.
“Celebrate America250 because for 250 years Americans have worked to make this country survive. It didn’t get this way by happenstance. Young people worked to see it move forward,” Bernard said.
He said young people should look inward and realize their contributions could help America see another 50 years.
“Be that person who embodies what the American dream could be, and by doing that yourself, you’re going to inspire others to do the same,” Bernard said.

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