My name is Sharon Chandler Correnty. I am female, African American turning 63 in August. I am a 1975 graduate of the Bromfield School. I attended UMass Dartmouth and received my B.F.A. in 1979.
I have worked in education since 1979. My resume reads from being an art teacher to working as a dean of admissions in higher education. Throughout my career as an educator I have held positions as a learning assistant and assistant librarian. I am here today as the only teacher of color for the Harvard public schools. While I want to listen and learn, I also want to share my story.
My story is unique because my roots run deep here in this town. My great-grandmother Martha Hazard was a member of the very first class of the Bromfield School. Martha Hazard married Allen Hazard and he was the caretaker of the Hildreth Estate. Does the name Hildreth sound familiar? I come to work every day and pass the house where my mother was born, and where my grandfather was born.
My personal story about growing up in Harvard is both good and bad. There were moments that to this day I will always remember, like the sting of each year my elementary school teachers reading aloud Little Black Sambo. I refuse to eat pancakes to this very day.
The constant need for teachers and classmates touching my hair and asking questions. Ever wonder why I keep my hair so short? As a young child at the age of 6 this was trauma.
What kept me strong was the loving guidance of my parents. The country began to shift and my birth certificate that once defined my race as colored changed to African American. My parents eventually over time started to change their style and showed more confidence with being Black. When I saw how my parents embraced the change with hairstyle and clothing, I stopped feeling the sting of inferiority. I started to see images that looked like me in magazines and TV.
Now—fast forward to when I return to Harvard as the art teacher. I get to teach a subject that was my passion as a child. When your life brings you back to the beginning you start to wonder why.
Our world right now needs to shift again. We all need to pause and rethink how we relate to one another. Right now words like acceptance, empathy, patience, peace, silence, and kindness are vital every second and every minute. We have to give respect to receive respect. Think about the tone and intention when we engage in conversations about our personal cultural identity. I will close with one thought and that is if you are well intentioned, just ask the question and engage in a meaningful authentic discussion. It is the authenticity that allows us to heal and grow.
Sharon Correnty
Leighton Street, Pepperell
