A Student-Athlete's Perspective: Marvellous Iheukwumere

Columbia junior Marvellous Iheukwumere is enjoying an outstanding career with Lions as a sprinter on the women's track & field team. She is a two-time winner in the 200m at Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Track & Field Championships (2012 and 2013) and won the 200m at the 2013 Metropolitan Indoor Championships. She also captured first in the 60m at Indoor Heps in 2013 after finishing second in same event the previous year.

1. When you think of the history and accomplishments of African-Americans in our country, what jumps out in your mind?
Iheukwumere: When I think of the history and accomplishments of African Americans in our country today, four figures immediately come to my mind- Martin Luther King, Jackie Robinson, President Obama and Gabby Douglas. Martin Luther King’s leadership and commitment to the civil rights movement was truly foundational in procuring the Civil Rights Act, ending institutionalized racial discrimination and prejudice, and paving a way for future African Americans to succeed in all aspects of life.  Martin Luther King also was the first African American to receive the Nobel Peace Price for his non-violent approach to combating racial prejudice and inequality.  What really stands out to me is that the man was so dedicated to eradicating racial inequality and I only wish that he had lived to see the fruit of his labor. Today, he stands as a hero not just for African Americans, but also for all who seek racial justice and equality.
   
Jackie Robinson's accomplishments as the first black man to play in the Major League Baseball and to be selected to the Major League Hall of Fame also comes to my mind. Sometimes today, we may take it for granted that we play sports, but it is great to remember that not too long ago, in fact just only around 66 years ago, African Americans were not allowed to play on the same teams with Whites. Jackie Robinson became part of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ team in 1947, he broke the color line and 66 years later, African Americans are doing well in every sport.
   
President Barack Obama, first African American president to serve for not one term, but two terms is a great historical achievement for the US and the world. For the first time in history, the “White” House would be occupied by an African American family, a family that not too long ago in history would have been looked down upon or barred from even entering the White House. I think it is a miraculous feat and will forever be remembered in history, far beyond our time. It is a testament of how African Americans have truly come from grass to grace- once slaves, and now leaders over the people and the land that once enslaved them.
   
Gabby Douglas serves to remind young people that change can come through us as well. Yes, we have historical figures like Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and President Obama, but African American youth are making history and further dismantling the strongholds of racism and discrimination. Who would have thought that a young girl like Gabby would have accomplished such a feat? What is so great about it is that she accomplished this feat at a world stage, everybody was watching, and everyone could see another historical breakthrough for African Americans. The young girl inspired people all over the world, and she revived Martin Luther King’s dream.  
    
There are a host of things that African Americans have accomplished. Sometimes, when I am in class, I look around and I think to myself, wow some hundred years ago, African Americans were picking cotton, working as slaves, beaten to the ground and treated as if they were worthless and without purpose. Now, African Americans graduate from the same prestigious schools they were denied from attending, African Americans work at the jobs they were denied to have, African Americans are able to enjoy a level of freedom that was at a time unattainable and seemed like it was never going to come. Although, racism and discrimination is still alive in our present time, there is hope and a lot more opportunities open to African Americans, and we are not yet done with rewriting history. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

2. What do you enjoy and what are the challenges in your current experiences as an African-American student-athlete on an Ivy League campus?
Iheukwumere: Being a student-athlete in an Ivy League institution is an arduous commitment. Being an African-American student-athlete is even harder. While I have had a wonderful experience here at Columbia, this experience has had its shares of highs and lows. I am extremely proud of all my fellow student-athletes because we work hard to not only be successful in our sports, but also in our classrooms and future careers. I think it is great to be surrounded by such a diverse group of people here at Columbia, and every time I reflect on things, I can’t help but to be grateful for where I am. Never in my entire life, would I have imagined that a girl like me from a small town in Nigeria would come to Columbia to run track and attend one of the best schools in the world. I count myself blessed and thank God for the opportunity to be here. I enjoy being a role model for young children, peers and even some of the adults here on campus. It is always encouraging to hear my fellow students ask me about how my season is going, or even when they leave their busy schedules to attend my sporting events. I am thankful for those people who can find an appreciation for sports, and who do not ridicule or question my passion for track and field.

In terms of challenges, I would say that everyday I have to work hard to dispel all stereotypes that people may knowingly or unknowingly have about black athletes. When we first moved to this country, my mom always taught me to work above and beyond, because people are already expecting me to act a certain way because of my skin color, I must show them that yes my skin is black, but no it does not define my character or my integrity. I am different. Sometimes it is hard to fully channel my love for sports in an Ivy League Campus because sometimes my peers, professors do not support sports and often I hear comments like “What are you going to do with that? or “Why do you still even run?” Another thing that hurts is the misconception that people have about athletes- most students think that student-athletes are just given a free easy way to enter an Ivy League. Yet these students forget that we have to work hard to earn a spot in the classroom, just like them. I have had people say to me, “Well you’re black, smart, and athletic, that’s probably why you got into Columbia”. Such thoughts and comments show that people have not strayed too far from racial prejudice and discrimination. In order to dispel negative thoughts and stereotypes, I have to work twice as hard. I don’t want people to continue to have this negative image in their head of black athletes who are not smart and who are only smart on the field, I want people to accept the fact that African American student athletes on Ivy League campuses can and do succeed equally in the class, on the field, and on the court.

3. As you reflect on Black History month, talk about one person who has influenced your life and why?
Iheukwumere: As I reflect on Black History month, one person who has influenced my life in a major way is my mom, Oby Iheukwumere. I am the woman I am today largely because of her unconditional love and sacrifices. She has always worked above and beyond to provide opportunities for me to flourish in my academics and athletics. Even when I first started running track, she was always there to encourage me, when she couldn’t make it to my track meets because of work, she would make sure to find a way to make up for not being there. When I started applying to colleges, she was there every step of the way to guide me, and she is still here today helping me.  She spends countless nights praying for me, and she is truly my number one fan! She often tells me that every parent should want their children to be better than them and to succeed more than they ever did. She is my role model, my best friend and my counselor.

My mom is a very wise woman, far beyond her years and I am very thankful to have her in my life. She exemplifies the woman I want to be and more. I admire her strong spirit and passion for God. I think the best thing about my mom is that she is a woman who leads just by being. Every thing that I have learned from her has come directly from watching her actions. Although she did not receive the best opportunities, she takes from the little she received to teach me so that I can offer great opportunities to my children someday. My mom is worth more than anything to me and I am thankful that she has imparted everything she knows to me just by loving me and teaching me to love others. If everyone could have a mom like mine, the world would be a better place. I respect her so much, and she inspires me to continue to work hard to achieve my goals.

4. What do you feel is your role in being a leader or role model as African-American student-athlete on your campus and in your communities both at school and at home?
Iheukwumere: Ever since I was born, my mother has always taught me to live up to my name. She named me Marvellous for a reason and in everything I do, I must first give glory to God and use my life to serve others. Hence, I think that God gave me this opportunity to come to Columbia to not only better my future but to also give me the chance to serve as a leader and role model. Everyday when I wake up, I ask myself: “How can you be a good leader today? How can you change someone’s life today? I am very passionate about encouraging others and I am VERY optimistic. I love to help people to accomplish their dreams and I love to lead by example. I understand that being an African American student athlete here at Columbia carries its weight of expectations and responsibilities. In my actions, I am careful because I know that someone is always watching, and I want that person to see good, positive and inspiring things from me, as opposed to seeing and learning bad, negative and demotivating things. Furthermore, as a female I know that it is my role to serve as a leader and positive example for the young girls on my team, on campus, and in my communities at school and at home. Whenever I’m at practice with my teammates, I know that they are watching me and I make sure that I can be a trustworthy teammate, sister and friend to them. I think it is really important to serve as a role model for young women at Columbia, especially since our school started admitting women in 1983.  I believe that all black female student athletes at Columbia should serve as a role model in every way so that those after us can have a rich history of black women who excelled at Columbia, not just for sports, but for academics and for being women of integrity and character.

Furthermore, when I enter the classrooms of Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, I want the students to see and know that I am there to be their friend and mentor. I aspire to encourage them and inspire them through my own personal stories and experiences. I want them to see that yes, black people are awesome and we are defying all odds that are against us. I want the students to be proud of their heritage, and to never feel disabled because of their race or skin color. Even when I go back home to Texas and Nigeria, I always make an effort to visit the young people in my communities. I go to practice with the young girls on my old summer track team, I listen to their stories and I tell them my stories, I give them advice. In my community at home, I am the first person to attend and play sports at an Ivy League institution, so it is key that I represent my community in a positive light, both in my academics and athletics. Most of my family members live in Nigeria, and I also want to represent my family name here in America well, I know that there are many expectations for me to be a leader and to be an example to those before me. I like these expectations because I want to leave this earth knowing that I at least touched someone’s life in a significant way for everyday I lived. My lifetime goal is to impact the world in a positive way, and being here at Columbia has opened doors for me to do so, and Godwilling I pray that I continue to serve as a role model and leader to all, young and old, through my academics, athletics, and personal life.

5. Projecting forward, what is one thing you would like to achieve or be part of once you graduate to advance the African-American ideal for future generations?
Iheukwumere: There are several things that I want to achieve once I graduate, but one thing that unites all my goals and aspirations is that I want to leave a legacy when I am gone. Whether it is through my academics, or athletics, I want to reach my full potential, I don’t want to allow the history of racial prejudice and discrimination to stop me from achieving what God has in store for me. I want to use my life and my interests in Track and Field, Psychological Research and Law to create positive change and open up doors of opportunities for the current and future generations of African Americans. One of my biggest dreams is to compete in the Olympics and I also envision myself being a part of great African American leaders leading people to succeed and to conquer the strongholds of racial inequality. I want to be a part of a generation that sees the first African American woman as president of the United States of America, and a generation that sees the end of mass incarceration of African Americans.