Charles J. McLean II, a native of Biloxi, Miss., whose passion for history is matched only by his dedication to education, has earned his Master of Arts in History from Alcorn State University. This achievement marks the culmination of two years of intense study, balanced with McLean’s full-time role as assistant director of bands at Natchez High School in the Natchez-Adams School District.
McLean’s journey to this point is one of diverse experiences and unwavering commitment. He is a proud alumnus of Alcorn State University, a decision he made to seek a different environment after attending a predominantly white high school. “I wanted something different, so I didn’t want to go to Jackson State, I didn’t want to go to Valley, so that’s how I ended up at Alcorn,” McLean shared in a recent interview.
His introduction to Alcorn was through the “Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite” Marching Band, where he played trombone and later served as the Trombone Section Leader from 2021 to 2023. McLean vividly recalls his time with the band, describing it as “one of the most life-changing things” and akin to being in the movie “Drumline”. “It was almost like being in a movie, kind of like, you know, the movie Drumline, I guess,” McLean said.
Initially, McLean’s academic path at Alcorn began with a focus on criminal justice, driven by his deep-rooted interest in civil rights and equality. His passion for these issues stems from his own family history, with a father from England whose parents were immigrants—his grandfather from Jamaica and grandmother from Malta—and maternal grandparents who were sharecroppers. “So anything when it comes to, you know, civil rights, a whole bunch of stuff like that is, you know, I’m big into that,” McLean explained.
McLean is also a Spring ‘22 initiate of the Delta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and a member of the Iota Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.
His undergraduate experience at Alcorn shaped his perspective on the significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). “They are definitely the place to be, and this is speaking from experience, when you go to an HBCU, there’s something for everyone,” said McLean. He emphasized the unique environment where students can truly find themselves, free from the constraints of being categorized solely by their minority status. “It gave me more confidence, more self-assurance, and definitely taught me how to multitask and network with people,” McLean reflected on his undergraduate years.
After earning his undergraduate degree, McLean found himself drawn to education, becoming the assistant band director at Natchez High School. His involvement in the band fraternity, his experience as a section leader, and his musical abilities made him a strong fit for the role. In this role, McLean believes he is making a difference by serving as a positive role model for young students, particularly males. “The impact I think I’m making in this role, basically showing young students, specifically male students, that you can do something different,” McLean shared. “When I come to school, I dress up all the time. Most male teachers they see are coaches. They wear sweats, you know, things like that,” he added.
While making an impact at Natchez High, McLean decided to further his own education. “Being that I was gonna be here teaching, and I’m right down the road from Alcorn, I said I might as well get another degree,” he explained. Although his undergraduate degree was in criminal justice, McLean’s passion for history, especially Black history and family history, led him to pursue a master’s in the subject. “So even here at Natchez High School, I’m the African American Culture Club sponsor. And so I teach, we do field trips and things like that. They learn black history in the area and things like that,” McLean said.
Balancing his full-time job with graduate studies was a challenge, but McLean’s determination, fueled by the sacrifices of his parents and grandparents and a personal promise, propelled him forward. “What pushed me, I guess, would be knowing the sacrifices my parents made, knowing the sacrifices my grandparents made, and also the promise I made to myself,” McLean said. “Like I said, since I’ve been a kid, since I was a kid, I said I wanted to do this,” he added.
With his master’s degree now in hand, McLean is setting his sights on his longtime aspiration: law school. “Being a lawyer is what I’ve always wanted to be since I was a kid,” McLean revealed. He aims to use his education and experiences to advocate for his community and inspire others. “Giving back to my community and inspiring people that have gone through the same stuff I’ve gone through,” McLean said when asked about his ultimate goal.
McLean acknowledges the support he received along the way, mentioning Dr. Everson Martin, his band director; J. Janice Coleman, his English professor; and Alfred Godney as particularly helpful and supportive faculty members at Alcorn.
As McLean embarks on this new chapter, he offers words of encouragement to others pursuing their dreams: “The best words of encouragement I could get is basically, life is always going to be full of setbacks, it’s just your, it’s up to you how you make them,” he advised. “So basically, me coming here was a setback and a lot of, my whole life I was a strategic planner. So when I found out I’m not going to law school right away, it was almost the end of the world, but I found purpose in that setback,” he explained.
