Eighteen-year-old Da’Vion Tatum is the first Black male valedictorian of Westfield High School, in Houston Texas, and is now attending Harvard University.
In an interview with Fox 26 Houston, Tatum said, “My story specifically can help other young Black men to know that just because society may say one thing about you, or there may be a stigma or stereotype that surrounds being a Black man, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re confined to that.”
The teenager has always been an example of Black excellence and even wrote his own autobiography, which he began writing in middle school, “Thriving In My Own Lane,” which explained the details of how he was able to reach his accomplishments.
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“It was to show that regardless of what’s happening around me, I’m going to continue thriving in my own lane,” he continued, “I’m going to continue pushing for equity, inclusivity, and justice.”
Tatum realized the prejudices and racism that surrounded him from an early age but did not let that deter him from reaching his dreams.
“I noticed that people didn’t see me in that light because I was a young Black man. They didn’t see me in the light of the next doctor, lawyer, engineer,” he said. “The message I wanted to convey was that we are more than just a stereotype. We are more than just thugs. We are more than athletes.”
The young man hopes to be a voice of inspiration for others who may have had a similar experience to him.
“I think that’s the key. We shouldn’t always try to compete with others,” said Tatum. “We should really just try to compete with ourselves, and when you do that, you’re going to keep bettering yourself.”
Tatum was awarded millions of dollars in scholarships and acceptances into 11 different colleges and universities.
