An Interview with Dr. Fredrick Kakumba
Fredrick Kakumba, an HVCC instructor and prominent figure at Hudson Valley, discusses his thoughts and experiences on Black History. Dr. Kakumba, who is from Uganda, started teaching at Hudson Valley in 1970. Dr. Kakumba currently teaches economics and history, part-time. He acquired a passion for teaching because he always wanted to work and be around young people. He said, “Coming from Africa where most people didn’t have and still don’t have a chance to go to school, I thought I’d pass the knowledge that I acquired from the United States and Africa to educate people.”
Dr. Kakumba is Pan- Africanist, and he believes that people of African descent should work together, especially the students. Dr. Kakumba has participated in many activities on campus, such as the EOP program committee, Affirmative Action committee, and working for the Dean. He’s known for being professional and compassionate.
He said that he would like to see more students of African and African American descent. “We need more role models. We need people more like us who are positive in the classrooms.”
The advice Dr. Kakumba gives to other students is to respect education, authority, family, religious values, become involved in your community and give back. He said education is important because it helps build your character, responsibility, sense of purpose, maturity and independence, and, most importantly, values. He also explained how education draws your character and exposes you to different people. “We still are left behind in terms of performance; I encourage students not to be a victim. Pass on your education; it is more important than money. Education is like planting a tree with more seeds to grow. Don’t sit back, contribute and pass on that’s really my philosophy.” Dr. Kakumba said, “Globally, we are not the majority, in times of economic hardships, and in times of influencing policies within the country. Although, we have shaped history for us in the United States we are still are the minority.” Kakumba states “We need not only black history but history in general to raise consciousness to people in all parts of the world.”