Community leader, entrepreneur, and author of the inspiring Black Tech: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – Leaders in Technology series, Theresa Merritt-Watson, recently appeared on SBC in support of her bestselling Amazon book. When speaking with the Synergy Training Solutions founder and director, her passion for Black history, especially overlooked or unknown inventors and innovators is clear.
As a mother to her then young six children, she instilled pride in their heritage by including education in their chores.
“I was serious about them not getting their allowance–and it wasn’t a whole lot of money by the way–but whatever it was, you were not getting it unless you recited a poem by Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, or told me a Black fact,” she recalls.
The author smiles when asked how her children felt when they succeeded. Not only have five out of the six graduated from Hampton University, a renowned Historically Black College and University, but they still make sure to tell her that they appreciate her teachings.
She firmly believes that one’s history lessons begin in the home. “When your kid is like three-years-old or two-years-old and you’re reading them books, let them see the pictures of themselves. That makes them leave home with the idea of importance.”
Merritt-Watson’s background spans politics, nonprofit organizations, the private sector, churches, and HBCU’s. Before writing Black Tech, she authored the self-help book, A Guide for Teenage Parents.
Check out the episode to learn more about Merritt-Watson and her series, her thoughts on the education system then and now; her perspective on the best way to teach youth about their history; how she would like to see Black tech evolve; whether she thinks tech in general has mostly impacted the world negatively or positively, and more. For more information, visit https://synergytrainingsolutions.org/.