The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 20

February 2, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 4 Features Black History Month: Martin Luther King Jr. What can you do with a degree in history? It has been 46 years since Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Morland co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) with the purpose of educating and raising awareness about the contributions of Black people in American history. Today, after almost 50 years, Negro History Week, an event hosted by ASNLH, has evolved and is now known as the Black History Month. Black History Month, held during the month of February, is not only about celebrating those of the Black community who have left their fingerprints in American history, but also to pay tribute to a long list of individuals including Martin Luther King Jr. NSU’s Bachelor of Arts in history teaches students valuable skills in writing, information analysis and research that would benefit them in a variety of fields. History majors can find careers in education, journalism, law, politics and much more. According to Charles Zelden, a professor of history and politics at NSU, a degree in history “is great preparation for going into public service and for going to law school, but also for getting a business degree. The skills that we emphasize in history are analysis, clear communication, the ability to construct a clear argument about why something should or shouldn’t be done and why something happened or didn’t happen. All of these are skills that translate well for just about any job you can think of. These are [skills] that are portable to other fields and other areas.” On Jan. 15, 1929, in Georgia, one of the greatest activists and leaders of the civil rights movement was born: Martin Luther King Jr. King shocked the world more than once, and his speech on the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom is proof of it. He was the voice of many people, so it is impossible to talk about him without emphasizing one of his greatest speeches. On Aug. 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people attended the March of Washington for Jobs and Freedom with the purpose of advocating for the civil and economic rights of African American people. King gave his notable and historic “I Have A Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The most famous part of it is when King talks about the America he dreams of. He dreamed of an America in Here are just a few of the common career paths that history majors can take and how they can get there. Education and academia Education and its related fields make up the largest careers for history majors. Roughly 20% of history majors go on to work in education, according to the American Community Survey 2010-14 and the American Historical Association. Education careers that history majors can utilize their degrees in include working in schools, libraries and museums. With the addition of a teaching certificate to your degree, you could teach history in a K-12 school. You could also put your information analysis and research skills to use in a library helping patrons to learn about a variety of topics -- however, this career may also require Shark Cage Business: The Shake Place Located in Mako Hall, the Shark Cage is a wonderful spot where NSU’s entrepreneurs get their start. Many businesses are run out of this area, but one that draws crowds every weekend is The Shake Place, amilkshake parlor run by an NSU student. Eva Ducanis is a junior at NSU, an accounting major and part of the Razor’s Edge Shark Cage business program. She’s been running The Shake Place since the beginning of this school year, and takes pride in creating a place on campus where students can relax with friends while enjoying a sweet treat. “The goal of The Shake Place is to provide an environment for students to hang out and enjoy just talking to each other and building connections while also enjoying a milkshake. We have a large menu and it’s fun to serve students and have them hang out there,” said Ducanis. The Shake Place has many options to choose from and includes the classics, such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Themenu also features special milkshakes, which are cookies n’ cream, birthday cake, cinnamon toast crunch and salted caramel pretzel. “I love the salted caramel pretzel milkshake, but what people often don’t know is you can add flavors together. My favorite off the menu item is birthday cake oreo, which is a really good combination that not a lot of people know about,” explained Ducanis. The delicious milkshakes are a great way to draw in students from all over campus, no matter what grade or major. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, many students have found The Shake Place to be a great spot to meet up with friends after a long week. “The most rewarding part about running The Shake Place is that, when students come in, especially freshmen, they sit and play games.When they sit in the booths and have conversations, you just hear them laughing and the music is playing. You just have this really welcoming and calm atmosphere. It’s great because with COVID-19 right now, a lot of clubs and organizations aren’t operating and are doing Zoom sessions, so there’s not a lot of ways to be in person and engaged with your friends. That’s really one of my biggest goals forwhat IwantThe Shake Place to be: another place where you can make connections.” said Ducanis. The Shake Place was previously known as The Sweet Spot, run by a graduated Razor’s Edge student. Ducanis explained that while you may feel pressured to create something completely new in the business world, it’s okay to expand on things that already exist. “Honestly, I’ve learned that entrepreneurs need to have the humility to say, ‘Is there something I can take on and improve upon andmake it better?’ It doesn’t have to be a brand new invention or a brandnewmarket.Do something that has beendone before andmake it better.You can be successful that way.At the same time, though, don’t let it limit your creativity and drive,” explained Ducanis. The Shake Place is open on Mondays from 7-10 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 p.m.-12 a.m., making it the perfect place for students to enjoy a late night treat. Ducanis urges students and staff to keepaneyeontheirsocialmediaforannouncements regarding newflavors, such asmint oreo and cookie dough as well as other promotions. which all people could live like brothers and sisters, he believed and dreamed of an America where freedom and equality are for all and of an America where little Black boys and Black girls will be able to join hands with little White boys and White girls. He believed and dreamed of an America where there was no place for darkness and hate, but love and forgiveness. The “I Have a Dream” speech is considered one of the greatest speeches of all time,, even after 57 years. The reason why this speech had such an impact on people and in history was because of its message and the dream it introduced to the world, based on love and truth. The dream of an America where freedom and love reign was inspiring and encouraging. On Aug. 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. made a master’s degree. The American Community Survey 2010- 14 also found that roughly half of all history majors go on to get a graduate degree. This offers more career opportunities in research in academia. With a master’s or doctoral degree in history, you could take on a job as a history professor, historical researcher or historian. Law and business A degree in history is one of the first possible steps that students interested in becoming lawyers and attorneys take. The skills taught to history majors can prepare them for what kind of work they will do when they get to law school. In the same vein, if a history student wants to go into law, but not law school, they can put the same skills to work as paralegals or legal assistants. Becoming a paralegal is an entry-level history. From that moment on, King did not just win the Man of The Year award from Time Magazine in 1964, but also the Nobel Prize. Charles Zelden, a professor of history and political science at NSU, explained that, “Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the greatest men of all time. His legacy and his desire of a better America will be forever remembered, not only in the U.S., but also globally. His teachings, his way of protesting was nothing different from what Mahatma Gandhi did in India.” King was surely one of the most influential people in U.S. history. Want to read the whole story? Check out Black History Month:Martin Luther King Jr. at nsucurrent.nova.edu . job that history majors can get to see if this is the path that they want to take moving forward. A degree in history is also applicable in business as a consultant or as a market analyst. Careers in these fields are common paths for history majors, with over 50% of history majors going into these combined fields, according to the American Community Survey 2010-14 and the American Historical Association. Paul Sturtevant, a medieval historian and author, wrote, “Career prospects for history majors are good. You get to decide where your path lies: your degree is a springboard to one of the many fields that value the skills you learned in college.” A degree in history can lead to a wide variety of careers. There is a career out there for every student, you just need to find the one that fits you. PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY R. PEREZ A look at The Shake Place prior to the evening rush. By: Santiago D. Finochietto Contributing Writer By: Sofia Gallus Arts & Entertainment Editor By: Alexander Martinie Opinions Editor