Graduating from college is one of the biggest milestones of one’s entire academic career. For Black men, the meaning is deeper rooted, as the opportunity to do so was not always an option and the expectation of intelligence was non-existent. Despite advancements in society and the implementation of resources to improve the chances of African Americans receiving a college education, there is more work to be done. According to The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, recent years has revealed that the graduation rate of black men in particular is 35%.
However, there is a void in conversation on what happens after one obtains their degree as a Black man, and there is an even bigger void in the conversation of what happens after one obtains their degree in the midst of a pandemic. Anthony Baker, 22, fueled the conversation through his experience as a May 2020 college graduate. Similar to many of his colleagues, Baker had an unusual experience when he graduated with his bachelor’s degree. Graduating virtually during a time of stillness in the world, Baker, like many others, faced a new challenge of pursuing a career as a fresh graduate when the work force was in a state of halt. He says graduating from college during these hard times has been rough to say the least. The impacts of COVID-19 initially seemed to slow the progress of post graduate plans, however, these impacts have proven to be more long term.
“I was supposed to do a program after graduation which I was so excited about, at first it was put on hold, but after some time they just cancelled it all together,” Baker said.
As a result, Baker has been job searching since his graduation in May. The effects of post graduate depression prevail despite the changes in life due to the pandemic. Baker says he’s found himself to be both positively and negatively impacted by the pandemic. While he has experienced feelings of being lost he is still determined to find his next plan and unlock new passions
“Right now, I’ve found the best thing I can do is focus on me and what brings me inspiration,” said Baker. “Despite the pandemic I’ve started a YouTube channel, ‘Tony Takeover’, and found a love for graphic design, dance, and videography. When the world was busy and hectic, I wasn’t tapped into my everything that brought me inspiration, now I’ve really slowed down and found the time to focus on what I like to do.”
While the pandemic interrupted what we considered to be our norm, the norm which reflected in the injustices among Black men were spotlighted. With the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, the world had no choice but to focus on the brutal reality of being Black in America.
“It’s always been rough, but it’s rough constantly seeing and witnessing on a daily basis how Black people are treated,” said Baker. “Being able to express this reality to my white friends has been an educational experience that has forced everyone to face this reality.”
Baker said despite the hurt from living in a country which portrays him as a threat, he wants to work harder to find himself in this world, proudly as a Black man. Baker’s experiences since his graduation have motivated him to nurture his mental health and deal with depression by way of creativity. He found keeping himself busy and being a helping hand to others has fueled his inspiration even more. He has spent more time supporting friends as well as small businesses which have emerged since the pandemic. Baker says he is still finding his passions, receiving new opportunities, beginning a fitness and health journey, and changing his lifestyle for the sake of maintaining his mental health. He plans to continue these practices and continue to search for a career which makes him enjoy waking up every day.
