By: Mariah Brown
In honor of Women’s History Month, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s (FAMU) First lady, Sharon Robinson hosted the first “Her Story Is Our History” Appreciation Luncheon in the Grand Ballroom on March 24.
Host Valencia Matthews, Ph.D., dean of the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities initiated the order of ceremonies by reciting an excerpt from “In the Time Before the Men Came” by Pearl Cleage.
Bettye Grable, Ph.D. a member of the University’s Board of Trustees and President of the Faculty Senate spoke highly of FAMU’s First Lady and the significance of hosting such an event.
“Our first lady, Mrs. Sharon Robinson reminds us of what is the norm for us to be up front, important, and beautiful all at the same time,” Grable said.
Vocalists, Maiya Stevenson and Akeisha Mandela of the FAMU Concert Choir, performed a moving piece entitled “Pie Jesu,” accompanied by Marc Butler, D.M. The students were invited by Mrs. Robinson after representing the University at Carnegie Hall in New York earlier this year.
Throughout her moving speech, Robinson spoke of the strong women in her life such as her grandmother who taught her how to strive for her goals and remain humble. She also spoke of other women who have made an impact on her life such as Harriet Tubman, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Maya Angelou.
Robinson, who also serves as a nurse at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, said FAMU is indeed a special place.
“Tallahassee is not a very large city, but it has something special, it has this University and one of the major components of this University, are women like you and women who have been here before you,” Robinson said.
