Chapter 1: A Surprising Honorary PhD Announcement

I was taken aback when I received my usual alumni email requesting donations, only to find out that a highly accomplished Black female tennis player, who seemingly did not finish her degree at Northwestern University, was to be honored with an honorary PhD at the 2024 commencement ceremony. When Dr. Jett and I graduated with our BSIE degrees in June 1981, it was customary for honorary doctorates from any department at NU, aside from the School of Speech, to be awarded to individuals who exemplified the potential of a Northwestern education.

Honorary degrees from the School of Speech often went to those who left NU early and later achieved great fame, like Carol Burnett, who famously received support to depart UCLA and embark on her legendary Broadway career. Similarly, there’s Charlton Heston, a notable alumnus who became a prominent figure for the NRA after a distinguished career.

As I reflect on this, I have often questioned why my cohort from the McCormick School of Engineering has remained largely absent from the spotlight, despite many achieving significant career milestones and financial contributions to NU. This leads me to remember the controversies surrounding NU's Medical School during the PPE shortages at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic under President Trump. Additionally, in 2024, I recall NU’s efforts to secure Jewish donor support in light of recent events concerning Israel and Palestine, which have painted a troubling picture of the institution's priorities.

Digging deeper into my personal history since returning to Los Angeles in the spring of 2016, after saying goodbye to my beloved mother, Sadie Mae Thompson Walker Nickerson, RN, I recall her experiences within the close-knit Black community in Evanston, IL, where she worked at Evanston Hospital before moving to the University of Chicago Hospital System. Her interactions with a largely Jewish group of physicians and administrators shaped my understanding of community ties. My family's history, intertwined with generational wealth from names like Rosenwald, Skolnick, and Bronfman, highlights the complex web of social connections and opportunities afforded to us due to desegregation.

Consequently, in the fall of 2024, I was filled with disbelief and sorrow upon learning that the current administration chose to provide substantial military aid to one side in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, termed by the International Court of Justice as a genocide. The disillusionment deepens as I realize that many individuals I once regarded as allies in the pursuit of human rights and justice have revealed troubling biases and prejudices.

As I reflect on my experiences, I am compelled to consider the silence of many supposed allies from various states, who I believed shared a commitment to a more just society. This overwhelming sense of betrayal feels like a betrayal of the foundational ideals of our democratic republic.

My thoughts drift back to a poignant moment in a special education classroom in Los Angeles when I remarked after viewing time-lapse footage of a medical facility being built in Wuhan, “No one is coming to rescue us.” In a similar vein, my mother recalled my father’s last words, “the chickens are coming home to roost,” a reminder that political dynamics can yield unexpected alliances.

To foster a future that benefits all of humanity, we must confront our ingrained fears and embrace change. What lessons can we derive from our shared histories to promote life, health, and peace on Earth?

© VERNON NICKERSON SCHOOLCOACH 2024. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Chapter 2: Understanding Our Historical Narratives