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Greater Bridgeport's Black History Month Icon Redefining Leadership in 2026
By Kaiya Manlapit-Norko, Administrative Assistant
"One of the most important lessons you can learn from observing Black History Month is that times will always be difficult. There will always be challenges — but life moves forward, and we need to hold on and push past the midnight hour into a better day." - Attorney Donald Smart on News 12
The year is 2026, and we are in the midst of Black History Month. Communities continue to be challenged and called to the forefront amid various historical moments and evolving societal conversations. The words of Attorney Donald Smart, quoted above, could not be timelier. Amongst the chaos, they offer a steady and powerful light. The messenger himself — Attorney Smart— is a living embodiment of that very truth. Let us reflect on this Connecticut leader and remarkable figure of local Black history.
Photos courtesy of Calvin Jones II, Branch Manager President, M&T Bank
Stratford-born Attorney Donald Smart is the first Black American to graduate from Harvard College, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Business School — a triple crown of academic excellence that shattered barriers at America's oldest and most prestigious institution. Since achieving that historic milestone, he has become a pioneer in law, building distinguished expertise across a wide range of industries.
This month, Attorney Smart has been actively engaged in the community, dedicating his time to teaching young people about civil rights and Black history. He graciously led a program at BRBC member Sterling Community Center's MLK Day celebration earlier this year. His message from that day — that we must recognize Black history as American history — resonates deeply here, for Greater Bridgeport embodies that truth in every sense.
Our community's story has always been woven from many threads: immigrant dreams, industrial innovation, civil rights struggles, and economic reinvention. To separate Black history from American history in a place like Greater Bridgeport would be to unravel the very fabric of who we are.
Attorney Smart has also been active within the broader BRBC body alongside community leaders enrolled in our organization’s leadership cohort—Leadership Greater Bridgeport. In February's session of Leadership Greater Bridgeport, Class 37 had the distinct privilege of experiencing a masterclass on the U.S. Constitution with Smart. The Constitution is not simply a relic preserved behind glass; it is a living framework that leaders can leverage, challenge, and reshape. The session imparted wisdom on the historic significance of this foundational document and how it has endured since the late 18th century. True to the spirit of Leadership Greater Bridgeport, it was a dynamic, thought-provoking conversation — one that wove together current events and diverse perspectives. It put into practice Smart’s very words of how we can conceptualize that through difficulty, we have always found a way to persevere and move forward.
Attorney Smart's presence and legacy declare something powerful: your history is not separate from your future. The emerging leaders of tomorrow don't merely deserve role models who reflect their identities; they deserve role models who have shattered every ceiling placed above them and then returned home to declare, "You're next." As today's leaders, it is our responsibility to sharpen our vision and continue forging a path toward a better future.
This Black History month, Attorney Donald Smart has shown we don't just learn history — we leverage it. We don't just celebrate achievement— we replicate it. And we don't just talk about leadership — we cultivate it in our young people, one constitutional conversation at a time.
Photos courtesy of Calvin Jones II, Branch Manager President, M&T Bank