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During the Middle School Black History Month Assembly on February 15, students were all ears as John Milton Belcher ’71, the first African American to attend McDonogh School, talked to them about super powers, crossing boundaries, affirmative action, perspective, and a solution for world peace. He also answered questions about what it was like to be McDonogh’s only black student in 1959.

Belcher began by asking the middle schoolers, “If you were a super hero, what would your powers be?” Immediately, hands went up. But before he called on students, he explained that he has found it helpful to think of power in an expanded way —beyond the typical images that come to mind.

To help them understand what he meant by this, Belcher offered that one of his powers is being a boundary crosser. “And I am not just referring to crossing racial and ethnic boundaries,” he stated. Belcher, who is an educator and a professional musician, added, “Another way that I cross boundaries is through combining mathematics and music.”

With open minds, students began to verbalize their own powers, using words such as courage, hope, imagination, choice, empathy, and trust. When they were finished sharing, Belcher proudly announced, “I am honored to be in the room with all of the powers that you represent.”

Then, he asked, “Have you heard the phrase, just say know? I don’t mean n-o. I mean k-n-o-w.” He expressed how important it is for people to be clear in their beliefs. “Know each other, know your dreams, know your transcendent existence, know hope, know love, know creativity, know the whole range of who and what you are. Just say KNOW.”

Belcher also implored students to ponder what it means to take action, emphasizing that there is power in doing small, everyday activities. He said, “Recognize the power of small actions. In 1959, I was a young five-year-old, who happened to be black, who opened up the doors to others by coming to McDonogh. Small acts, over time, can have a lasting impact.”

Finally, Belcher addressed the issue of differences by asking the middle schoolers to think about the common statement, “If I were you, I would do such and such.” He pointed out, “The only way I can honestly make such a statement is if I were that person, if I had that person’s parents, if I grew up with that person’s experiences.” He stressed how important it is to carefully consider the perspective of others. “Blaming and shaming take us in the direction of further slicing and dicing the human family.”

Belcher’s parting words for the students, “If you do small things that are connected to a larger purpose, if you actively cultivate a sense of ‘We,’ if you use and develop your super powers and act in affirmative ways, if you just say know, k-n-o-w, you will find and experience greater peace in your piece of the world.”