Earlier this year, the Urban League of Broward County hosted “Portraits of Power”, an art exhibition and living wax museum that celebrated cultural heritage and heroic perseverance across generations. This was not a typical gallery. Our students became living embodiments of historical Black figures in a living wax museum, portraying activists, artists, and athletes whose stories remind us that real power is rooted in identity, resilience, and purpose.
As visitors moved through the exhibition, they did not just see faces. They experienced narratives of courage. Each student’s portrayal reflected a life defined by bold choices and unwavering spirit, echoing the living legacy of those who fought to expand opportunity and shine light into spaces where shadow once reigned.
This theme, cultural pride as a wellspring of power, was vividly reflected this year on the global stage at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. In a setting as unexpected as snow-covered slopes and ice rinks, Black athletes rewrote history and redefined what excellence looks like in winter sports.
Speedskater Erin Jackson continued to elevate representation in winter athletics. Already historic as the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympic gold medal in 2022, she returned to compete among the world’s best and further solidify her legacy. Elana Meyers Taylor, one of the most decorated Black Olympians in winter sport history, delivered powerful performances in bobsled, underscoring the breadth of excellence that Black athletes bring to disciplines where they have long been underrepresented.
Hockey made its own history as well. Laila Edwards became the first Black woman to represent the United States in Olympic women’s ice hockey, breaking barriers and inspiring future generations to see themselves on the ice. Athletes representing nations with limited winter sports visibility also stepped boldly onto the Olympic stage, proving that perseverance and pride can carry a flag into arenas once thought inaccessible.
Amid these historic feats, our exhibition featured the work of renowned Haitian artist Edouard Duval-Carrié, whose contributions carried a profound message of cultural preservation and global influence. Duval-Carrié made history alongside Team Haiti at this year’s Winter Olympics by designing the nation’s Olympic uniforms. His work brought Haiti’s rich history, symbolism, and revolutionary spirit into international view. The uniforms were not simply garments. They were declarations of identity, resilience, and artistic excellence.
Such creative leadership reinforces the idea that power is not only about physical abilities. It is about making and preserving our history for future generations. Whether expressed through sport, art, or scholarship, true power lies in the courage to honor one’s roots while shaping new possibilities.
The Baughtom Line: At “Portraits of Power”, students saw these narratives in vivid form. They learned that power is not bestowed. It is claimed through determination, community, and the bold act of imagining oneself into a legacy of greatness. As our living wax museum brought history to life, the stories from Milano-Cortina served as a contemporary echo. Black leaders and achievers continue to shape our world, reminding us that cultural pride and perseverance are the true markers of enduring power.
