Celebrating Black History Month: Meet Janeciah Cunningham

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Janeciah Cunningham, and I am from Brooklyn, New York. I am current a junior at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where I walked onto the rowing team.

What is your favorite quote, who said it, and what does it mean for you?

"Read about inspirational people; do something for others."

— Chris Kerber, Head Coach of Hobart Rowing

During the fall semester of my junior year, I was struggling with my mental health. Coach Kerber was able to get me out of that dark place by sharing those two axioms his mom frequently told. Whenever I'm sad or having a bad day, I read about someone who gives me a sense of purpose or hope, and I do something for someone in my life. That something could be buying a friend a coffee or watching my roommate's favorite movie with them.

What impact has rowing made on your life?

Rowing has allowed me to gain more confidence in myself. Since walking on to this team, I have a new sense of self-belief. I know that when I step into the boathouse, I will push myself every day to new extremes and be the best version of myself, not only for myself, but for my teammates. As the years passed, I became more confident in my ability to complete workouts. This newfound confidence translates to how I handle my personal, school, and social life on campus.

What is the essence of you?

Loud, confident, resilient, driven, and supportive.

How, if at all, does your identity play a role in shaping who you are and who you will continue to become?

As a Black woman, I know that I will face challenges in the future, and I know that I will have to continue to work hard and put myself out there. With my confidence, I will feel comfortable putting myself in uncomfortable situations. I understand my wants and needs and can speak up for myself and others when necessary.

What is something about you or your culture you wish more people understood?

I'm still trying to figure out what my culture looks like for me. My Black teammates have helped shape my culture significantly because we have all lived different experiences.

The Black History Month 2024 theme is African Americans and the Arts. How do you feel rowing exists as an art form?

The poise in every stroke needed to make a boat move is beautiful. You must be fully extended while keeping the proper posture at a high stroke rate, and when done with thought, it looks effortless and beautiful at the same time, even though you are in a lot of pain.

Browse the official USRowing Black History Month Resource Guide here.