Black History Month is special to Assistant Store Manager Javon Thomas, #649, Jacksonville, Florida, a hard-working associate with a big heart.

For Javon, Black History Month is a time of reflection and gratitude. He celebrates Black history all year, but he is especially thankful for February.

“It’s a time for people to be curious,” said Javon. “Black History Month provides a space to go deeper in celebrating the courage of those who came before us and the masterpieces that have come from their struggles.”

Those struggles include his mother’s and everything she has overcome.

“I was raised by a single mother. And because of racial discrimination, cultures at certain corporations were not welcoming to her,” he explained. “I saw her struggle to make money so I would have opportunities for a good life.”

That hard work paid off: Javon was able to play football growing up and attend Bethune-Cookman University, a historically Black university.

“Now,” said Javon, “I get to do what I love — serving my community at Publix. I work hard to provide for my wife and give my 2 beautiful children the same opportunities my mom gave me.”

Javon said he owes much of his success to his mentor and former store manager, Kristi King. She encouraged him to go into customer service, which he loved, ultimately leading to his decision to pursue a management position with Publix. Javon hopes to follow in Kristi’s footsteps and become a district manager.

In his spare time, Javon enjoys cooking and runs a couples’ ministry with his wife, Alysha. Being surrounded by so many inspiring Black Americans positively impacted Javon’s life, and he hopes to pay that forward.

“We each play a part in writing the next chapters of our shared history,” said Javon. “I want to be sure I write a story worth sharing.”

Publix is a family — a big, 250,000-person one — with backgrounds from across the country and around the world. This article is part of a series featuring associates from a variety of backgrounds, age groups and cultures, and we love sharing their successes. We hope our articles help you learn a little more about your fellow associates who make up our Publix family.