In a
series of occasional blog posts, participants in our Mellon Scholars Internship
and Workshop programs will introduce themselves, discuss their experiences at
the Library Company, and share their goals for pursuing careers in the field of
early African American history. This program is generously funded by the Andrew
W. Mellon Foundation.
“That which grows fast, withers as rapidly. That which
grows slowly, endures.”
My mother
would always tell me to walk, don’t run before I fall. My mother meant that one
day I would look up and ask “where has time gone?” As you can imagine, the
concrete marks will show I was not an expert in waiting. Today, I find myself
asking that very question, “where has time gone?”
Four and
a half years ago, I graduated from Jack Yates Senior High in Houston, Texas,
and continued to the University of Houston, where I received my Bachelor of
Science in Political Science. This journey redefined my purpose in life. With a
passion for law, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer before I graduated high school.
Other aspirations include teaching higher education and becoming a U.S Senator.
During my undergraduate career, I chose courses that allowed me to incorporate
my passion for law and public policy. Minoring in African American Studies, I
focused on public policy regarding race and social justice. This led to my interest
in the 2015 Mellon Scholars Internship Program, where I knew I would gain
experience that would enhance my studies. Undecided between graduate school and
law school, I applied to the program with the hope that it would help me to
figure out which was the better option for me. Whether it would be law school
or graduate school, I needed to gain experience in conducting research. Participating
in the program is helping me to determine what I ultimately want to accomplish
and leave as my legacy.
Researching
the historical collection of archives at the Library Company of Philadelphia
provided many ways to follow my interests in law, public policy, and race. For
my research project, I chose to research how activists from Northern states
influenced anti-slavery legislation. Previously unaware of the impact the North
had on the Reconstruction Amendments, I structured my research to analyze the
roots of activism in 18th- and 19th-century literature and rhetoric by black reformers and abolitionists in Philadelphia.
During my
journey, I have alternated between the decision of going to law school or
graduate school but now realize that I have the capability to do both.
Dominique Washington
2015 Mellon Scholars Intern
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