As we celebrate Black History Month, Chicago State Athletics has launched a monthlong video series highlighting both community leaders and legends of CSU Athletics. In coordination with the university's "Lifting As We Climb" Black History Month celebration, we discuss the importance of education, activism and much more:

Aremu Mbande, Program Director of The African American Male Resource Center at Chicago State

"Everybody has to be educated. What's really important for Black students is to not be ashamed, but to be proud. To know that, 'Hey, I'm getting this education, but it's not just for me. ... It's to make the world better.'"

Titania Harris, star of the barrier-breaking 1991 Chicago State women's tennis team

"We're able to venture out into different programs in our community to teach. I'm sure that will help grow and continue the sport of tennis in minority communities."

Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League
"A lot of times, we overlook the opportunity for informal education."

Father Michael Pfleger of Chicago's St. Sabina Church
"Our job on college campuses, from Chicago State on, is to make sure we're not raising our students to be leaders in a dysfunctional world, but rather to become tomorrow's revolutionaries for the new world."


Gloria Cosey and Godfrey Lawson of the Rosemoor Community Association


Dr. David Kanis, former Vice President at Chicago State University

Damani McClellan, Assistant Principal at Chicago's St. John de la Salle Catholic Academy