JeShawna Wholley

I am not originally from Atlanta. I was born in North Carolina, but I spent most of my adolescent years in Maryland. I came out in the 11th grade, and have rejected the closet every since. Honestly, I was one of the few that were privileged enough to have people around that were “like” me. I was on the drill team, and majority of my leadership was either gay or lesbian. Everyone knew, but no one cared. In fact, my first sergeant, mentor, and second mother to me is a lesbian. She and her partner have been married for over 10 years now. Because I had the chance to witness real love between two women, I knew that there was nothing wrong about it. Lesbianism just meant love between two women, and there is nothing wrong with love. So, as I began to come into my own sexuality, I was more than eager to embrace this new-found part of me. However, when I came to Spelman, I was a little more than shocked to find that the social climate was so different than what I was used to. I knew that I was in the south, but I will admit that I was a little naïve.

I didn’t always love Spelman the way that I do now. It took time, but I had to learn to accept her for who she is, and make my place within her. Spelman is simply in need of some shaking up. She wants to evolve and grow, but she just needs someone to speak up for her. That is what I have been trying to do since my Sophmore year.

I am currently a rising senior, and a Comparative Women’s Studies major, Psychology minor. I have had the privilege of being equipped with the language and mechanisms needed to cultivate social change; but it is actually my identification as a Black Lesbian Woman that has served as my personal motivation for my political endeavors. With my sincer love for women and my commitment to my people (mixed with my “flower child” tendencies), my role in the forefront of the political and social reconstruction of Spelman College seem inevitable.
Actually, these are same character traits that are responsible for my quest to enter into the non-profit sector (which is, in my opinion, the institution of social change). I am going to have my own chain of them around the globe, and although the particular cause for them is unknown, I do know that HUMANITY will be the common denominator.

So, when asked the question “what are my goals” my reply is simple. My goal is to change the world. I am going to achieve this goal by becoming a consultant for project management and programming for non-profits. Through project management you can foresee change in a very active and practical way. You are in the mist of the planning, execution and on the front lines defending your stance. It is all very exhilarating!

 I came to realize this during my tenure as President of Afrekete. Afrekete is Spleman’s only organization that fosters the LGBTQIQ community on campus. I was able to truly grow as an activist and discovered that my strength and passion was most apparent while I was planning and executing different events and programs for the campus. It is my responsibility to make the “revolution irresistible,” and I love every moment of it. I love it so much that I am now volunteering as the director of programming for Just Us Girls, Inc. It is a non-profit that serves as a mentorship program for adolescent and teenage girls. The immediate goal is that by the time I graduate I will have enough experience to join the staff as a PAID employee.