AFSCME Brings I AM 2018 to Miami Heat Black History Month Event

Earlier this week, the NBA’s Miami Heat held their Ninth Annual Black History Month Challenge at the AmericanAirlines Arena. Students from two local schools — Miami Central High School (Miami-Dade) and Dillard High School (Broward) — competed against each other by answering Black History trivia questions.

This year, members from AFSCME Locals 199, 1184, 1542, 2862 and 3292 helped to sponsor the event and were in attendance to participate in a short speaking program highlighting AFSCME’s I AM 2018 initiative.

“Through your participation today you are continuing your personal journey up Dr. King’s mountaintop and I ask you to keep working, keep bending the arc of history to justice not just today or during Black History Month, but in all you do,” said AFSCME Local 199 president and AFSCME International Vice President Se'Adoreia Brown to the students. “Understand that your success is that much greater when it makes not just your family stronger but our whole community stronger.”

The Miami HEAT Black History Month Challenge is a game show-style competition where one team from each participating school test their knowledge of African-American history, with the winning school walking away with a $4,000 grant and a HEAT prize pack. Two former Heat players, Alonzo Mourning and Shane Battier captained the trivia teams while the man behind the voice famous to all Heat fans, courtside reporter Jason Jackson, moderated the event. This year’s winner was Miami Central High School. As the runner-up, Dillard High School received a $500 grant.

“This month, we celebrate the numerous contributions and achievements of outstanding African-American men and women, both historic and contemporary,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto Carvalho. “The heritage and legacy unique to the African-American experience, culture, and creativity, are an intrinsic part of our nation’s history and have produced trailblazers in countless academic disciplines and professional fields, including education.”

“We have to use this 50th anniversary not just as a moment to remember our history, but to as a call to action to tackle the unfinished work of securing freedom and opportunity for all working people,” said Jeffrey Julius, a juvenile parole officer with the state of Florida and member of Local 2862.

Photos and video of the event can be found here.