In a world that often looks at successful Black women through the lens of "luck" or "clapping for the miracle," Dr. Abigail Hasberry stands as a monumental figure of Black Excellence who traded the four-leaf clover for a compass.
As an educator, researcher, and transracially adopted person, Dr. Hasberry has spent her career dismantling the "lucky" narrative. Her work is a masterclass in this month’s theme: Not Lucky. Learning. ---
The Myth of the "Lucky" Adopted Person
For many Black children in the system of adoption, society imposes a specific script: “You are so lucky to have been chosen.” This narrative suggests that their success is a byproduct of chance or the benevolence of others, rather than their own resilience, intellect, and agency.
Dr. Hasberry’s excellence lies in her refusal to let that script stand. She teaches that:
Luck is Passive: It implies things happened to you.
Learning is Active: It proves you navigated through it.
By reclaiming her own narrative, she empowers a new generation of children to understand that their placement in a family or their achievements in school aren't "accidents of fortune"—they are chapters in an experience they have the right to author.
Ownership of the Story
Dr. Hasberry’s work in Transracial Adoption advocacy focuses heavily on the "ownership of the story." She provides a framework for children to set boundaries, differentiating between what the world thinks (the "lucky" trope) and what is actually true (the complex reality of identity, loss, and triumph).
Boundary Setting: She encourages adopted persons to decide who gets access to their history. Just because someone asks "Where are you really from?" doesn't mean they are entitled to the answer.
The Power of "And": Her teachings allow for the complexity of being grateful for a family and grieving a lost culture simultaneously. It is the "Truth-Telling" we explored in February, matured into the "Self-Ownership" of March.
From Clover to Path: The Symbolism
The transformation of the clover into an arrow perfectly encapsulates Dr. Hasberry’s trajectory.
The Clover: Represents the static, fragile idea of "luck" that people project onto her.
The Path/Arrow: Represents the direction, intention, and skill she used to earn her PhD and become a leading voice in psychological safety and educational leadership.
The Educational Legacy
Beyond adoption advocacy, Dr. Hasberry’s Black Excellence shines in her role as an educational leader. She teaches agency. She models for Black students that brilliance isn't a roll of the dice—it is the result of intentional learning, the reclaiming of heritage, and the courage to speak one's truth.