RE Log - Fall 2021

FALL 2021 Ransom Everglades LOG 23 track and basketball. He also served as athletic director and, at the drop of a hat, he could switch to bus driver. He was the epitome of being an academic leader as well as someone who would willingly do any job required for the success of the in- stitution. A scholar and gentleman, Mike remains a role model for us all. VB: I would say it’s a tie between Mrs. Caroline Lewis and Mr. David Clark. Neither was ever my teacher. But I interacted with them every day. They both had a special relationship with every child, but they particularly knew the children of color on campus, and they sometimes served as a “translator” between us and the administration. What was your most memorable academic experience? WG: I slowly came to realize that history is taught from the perspective of the victor or the dominant faction. I realized that when we tell a story, it is important to present multiple perspectives if we are to learn from the past. VB: My senior year at Spelman College, my macroeconomics professor basically forced me to submit my final thesis to an economics competition that Spelman was hosting. She worked with me to submit my paper and helped prep me for presenting my findings. I actually won the competition! It was the first time I felt like an intellectual. I don’t think I ever loved a teacher more. Which historical figure would you most like to have dinner with? WG: Ralph Ellison, author of The Invisible Man . One perspective he presents is that of existentialism, particularly that of Black Americans. It is a common dis- cussion in Black America, the phenom- enon of being ignored, of not being truly considered as decisions are made. VB: Jesus Christ. The simple why is because He is my Lord and Savior. But also because his teachings, his philos- ophy, have withstood the test of time. What Jesus taught is still the cure to our societal ills, and I could frankly use some of His advice right now. Who was your role model growing up, and why? WG: Martin Luther King, because of his fervent belief in non-violence. VB: My father (Robert G. Beatty, attorney and owner/publisher of South Florida Times ). He was everything I wanted to be. My brothers still make fun of how following in his footsteps was the main reason I became an attorney. You were raised in Miami; what made you choose to stay here? WG: I have remained in Miami because I love it. Compared to many major cities, it is young. But it has grown rapidly over the past 50 years and has become a world recognized destination. We are a perfect petri dish for watching different groups of people thrive and excel. VB: Miami is my home. I was born here, but I was also nurtured here. As a Dade County girl, I spent my childhood being loved on by Jamaican and Haitian aunties, Cuban tios, godfathers, big mamas, all of us living in this great salad bowl of culture. Miami is beautiful; I stay because there’s no other city like it. What’s the best difficult decision you ever made? WG: Scaling back my time as a young musician and focusing on school. While I loved playing the violin, I also wanted to play foot- ball! I did not see myself as the next Isaac Stern or Joshua Heifetz. So, I had to decide. However, music provided me with an early sense of discipline and commitment. VB: The decision to ultimately leave law and pursue this vision of becoming an educator came to a head one day. I was on my way to Chicago to pursue a doctorate and I got a call from a recruiter offering me this amazing legal position downtown. The decision to walk away from my legal career, to go to a city where I knew no one and had no way of making money, all to follow a dream of who I wanted to be. It was hard. But it was the best decision I ever made. What do you do when you are not working? WG: I try to spend time with my chil- dren, doing anything that keeps their attention. I enjoy fishing, fresh water, brackish or salt. VB: I’ve become a bit of a home body since COVID. But if I’m not home, I’m traveling. What will make you smile, without fail? WG: Any hug I get from a grandchild. VB: Spending time with my family. “My inspiration for this work has always been the same, equipping each child with the resources needed to reap all of the benefits from a loving, accepting and exacting education.” – Victoria Beatty ’00