Undaunted: Building Generational Pathways for Success

By ACOG CEO Sandra E. Brooks, MD, MBA, FACOG

My father, now 94, was born in rural Virginia and was raised by his grandmother. His parents were remarkable for the time in that his mom baked bread for delivery and his dad had a barbershop. Unfortunately, his mom developed baker’s lung, and his dad contracted tuberculosis, so his life with them was cut short.

Many years later, my dad shared tender and inspiring letters his father wrote him from the sanatorium. My dad realized the path to moving out of the segregated Jim Crow south and everything that that entailed was through education. Graduating at 15, he found his way to Hampton with the intention of becoming an electrician. Finding himself short of tuition, the administrators told him, “Just get here, we will figure it out.” Two years later, armed with an associate’s degree, he sought to become an apprentice electrician, only to realize no one would take on a Black apprentice. Undaunted, he went back to Hampton and got his four-year degree in industrial arts, working while in school. He later attained a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Howard and was one of the first Black men to attain a master’s in engineering from Penn.

As we grew up, my sister and I understood our pathway to success would be through education. My mother was a civil servant and consummate homemaker. Our parents were steady, positive role models, teaching us the value of education, family, and helping others. They did not transmit bitterness from indignities or closed doors; just the need to persevere and do one’s best. Raising children in a world that seeks to suppress and demean you because of the color of your skin and not being paralyzed by externally imposed limitations was the gift my parents gave us that enabled my sister—a chemistry teacher—and me to thrive. It has fostered my enduring optimism and enabled my children to be path breakers in the fields of computer science and surgery. For that, I am beyond grateful.

The national theme for Black History Month 2025 is African Americans and Labor, highlighting how labor—from labor performed by slaves to the progress made during the Civil Rights movement to our current environment—has affected Black people throughout history and today. The work of Black people has contributed to every aspect of American life. To contribute a written or visual piece, email your submission and a headshot to [email protected].