Oracle's Theodore Jennings: Reflecting on Black LGBTQ+ role models and the power of allyship

Theodore Jennings, Director for Business Value & Customer Strategy at Oracle, spoke to myGwork about why it's important to mark Black History Month. Reflecting on the impact visible LGBTQ+ Black role models would have made to his own journey with his identity, Theodore shares why he's hopeful that we will all continue to shine a light on Black queer history.

"Allyship is like church; it’s finding others with the same beliefs and building a community to support one another through good and bad times."

Thanks for chatting to us Theodore! To start with can you share why Black History Month is important to you? 

I think about Black History in some form or another every day, as it acts as a reminder to me to never give up trying to cut through systemic racism that unfortunately colors many aspects of American life and still has millions of Black people living less quality lives of our White American brothers and sisters. However, Black History Month itself is like Sunday Morning Worship.

It’s a time to still the mind after a long week or long year of life’s challenges, and it acts as a way to still my soul, be reenergized by the stories of the Black American experience and reflect on where we’ve come, yet gives me some fuel to power onwards in the future. 

Is there anyone from Black LGBTQ+ history whose story is important to you? 

When I was a kid, my most revered Black leader was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. due to all of his powerful contributions to American life! It wasn’t until I attended Oberlin College in the mid 90’s did I learn about Bayard Rustin, and him nearly single handedly come up with and directed the planning of the 1963 March on Washington.

While I loved learning about MLK, had I knew about a Bayard Rustin when I was a young middle school or high school boy, it might have given me a much earlier start of self-acceptance to have known that a Black gay man worked as a senior advisor to Dr. King and was influential in what is considered one of America’s most famous civil rights events! That would’ve helped my confidence much earlier. But even learning about Mr. Rustin as a college student gave me huge positive intangibles to my soul and helped me to see that I too could be gay and be great! 

"As someone who grew up in a very homophobic society in Texas as a kid, had I known others like me, and if some of those who were out had reached out to me, it might have made a bigger difference in some of the psychological struggles I endured that were extremely painful."

And what about a Black LGBTQ+ role model you wish people knew more about? 

Kenneth Holmes, the former Dean of Students at Oberlin College, has gone on to serve in many senior roles at many prestigious universities across the US. Ken is now the Senior Vice Provost at the University of New Hampshire. He has been an excellent mentor to me and many other gay men in both a professional and personal advisory role.

He may not be as famous as others, but he’s doing good work to lift up many young gay students (and then onto young professionals), find their way and know their value in this world! 

What does allyship to the Black LGBTQ+ community mean to you? 

As someone who grew up in a very homophobic society in Texas as a kid, had I known others like me, and if some of those who were out had reached out to me, it might have made a bigger difference in some of the psychological struggles I endured that were extremely painful.

Allyship is like church; it’s finding others with the same beliefs and building a community to support one another through good and bad times. Having a “tribe” that you know has your back under any situation can mean the world to those struggling. Allyship is essential for success. 

How will Oracle be marking Black History month?

I am the Co-Lead for Oracle's Alliance for Black Leaders for Excellence for the tri-state area and we will focus on the role of black women in music over Black History Month and will attend live shows to celebrate this.  We will also have some volunteer opportunities to help back in the Black community here in NYC. 

Do you have any go-to shows or podcasts for learning about Black history? 

There’s no one spot I go to, but I currently go to PBS (looking at the history and impact of the Black Church in the Civil Rights Movement), on Hulu (looking at the 1619 Project and Wu-Tang Clan).

Lastly, what steps can individuals and organizations within the LGBTQ+ community take to ensure that Black voices and stories are heard and represented throughout the year beyond the confines of just one month? 

I’m not always the best at this myself, but we all have to join social activist groups that are constantly doing the good work of pushing freedom and equality forward for our communities as well as other disenfranchised peoples.