Travis Williams II is Creating History in the Classroom and Through Baseball

Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa, 92.9 WTUG, Praise 93.3, 105.1 The Block, and the Tuscaloosa Thread are proud to present the 2022 Black History Makers of Alabama supported by Sealy Furniture Outlet, Twelve25 Sports Bar & Entertainment Venue, and Red Oak Credit Union.

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The Yellowhammer State is filled with great African American leaders from the past, present, and future. We thank our West Alabama community partners, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Delta Phi Lambda Chapter, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Xi Omega Chapter for their continued support.

Travis Williams II is a Black History Maker of Alabama

“Black History is so important to me because every time I feel defeated or like quitting, I am reminded of the resilience of my ancestors. I am reminded of how they didn’t have the spirit of quitting when faced with adversity.  They refused to be deterred or to take no for an answer. While being an educator carries its own set of unique challenges, I feel it is important that kids see the presence of more black men in the classroom. More importantly, they see more positive male role models who look like them. It takes a village to build the next generation of African American leaders and it begins in the classroom.” - Travis Williams II

Travis Williams II is an eighth-grade physical science teacher at Eastwood Middle School with the Tuscaloosa City School System. Williams’ vision as a teacher is to educate and empower the next generation of African American leaders. In the classroom, he challenges students to think critically within the curriculum, while also instilling the importance of respect, leadership, and goal setting with a plan. In addition, Williams serves as the head baseball coach at Eastwood, where the vision is to change the culture and display that African American boys can play baseball at a high level.

Williams hails from Birmingham, Alabama where he attended Midfield High School, graduating in 2015. He attended Alabama State University located in Montgomery Alabama where he received a degree in General Science Secondary Education. While attending Alabama State University, Williams participated in the university’s Marching Band playing the Alto Saxophone, in which he was a squad leader for three years. His love of music led him to become a member of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. He also served as a mentor (Vice president for two years) in the Aspire Mentor Program mentoring and tutoring middle school kids and helping them set life goals.

Committed to serving others, he is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Williams served as the chair of the educational activity, community service, and stone committees, and a member of the step team.  In May 2021, Williams became the first male college graduate on the paternal side of his family when he graduated cum laude from Alabama State University and was fully certified to be an educator.

Upon graduation, Williams accepted a job at Eastwood Middle School. He stated, “I became an educator because I wanted to make a difference by empowering and educating my people. I wanted to show my students that we are capable of being more than just athletes and rappers. Further, I want my students to know that if they are equipped with an education, they have the power and ability to lead and make changes within their communities. We, as a people, come from strong ancestors, who persevered, and who was intelligent. As a result of their tenacity, we stand upon the shoulders of leaders, businessmen and women, politicians, scientists, inventors, and educators.”

In his first season as a head baseball coach, he hopes to instill in his players the importance of hard work and commitment. He is excited and looking forward to building a program that the Eastwood community can be proud of.  Williams, a former baseball player, is a passionate coach who is invested in the success of his players both on and off the field. With a roster of 20 players, Coach Williams hopes to not only teach his players the game of baseball, but also the importance of being the best young men they can be also. He is a visionary whose desire is to build a culture within the baseball program at Eastwood that will catapult his players into future college scholarship opportunities.

The Eastwood Stampede Baseball team’s season opener will be on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at Paul W. Bryant High School (across from the middle school). Williams hopes you will come out to support the program.