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West Orange High School Black History Scholarship Dinner Touches Hearts and Minds

WEST ORANGE, NJ – The 2019 Black History Month Scholarship Dinner, held Feb. 1 at West Orange High School, touched hearts and minds, brought laughter and tears, and most of all, paid homage to the black men and women that are a part of shared American history.

 

Black History month grew out of “Negro History Week,” created by Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans in 1927. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. In 2002, New Jersey passed The Amistad Law requiring public schools to teach black history that recognize the accomplishments and contributions of black Americans.

 

"These students worked tirelessly to create an event that showcases the talents of WOHS and how we celebrate Black History Month here, said Advisor Catherine Connors.
 
 
"Selam (President) and Mike (VP) are a dynamic team and were able to flawlessly host the event. I could not be prouder of all our students and how hard they worked to create this amazing event!" 
 
 
The annual event is organized by the Student Council and held to celebrate February as Black History month and to raise money for scholarships for graduating seniors. Student Council President Selam Woldai and Vice-president Mike Petros served as hosts along with Principal Hayden Moore, who led the crowd in a conga line and a “Soul Train” dance line. 

 

“We recognize all history at West Orange High School,” noted Principal Hayden Moore as he welcomed guests,” “and tonight we recognize black history.”

 

“I am proud to be the principal and get to work with these kids every day,” he noted. 

 

Musical performances, including the Jubilee Choir, were interspersed throughout the evening. Students performed original spoken word poetry, and the Girls and Boys Step teams ended the evening on a high note.

 

The evening’s Keynote Speaker was Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, a founder of the GrassROOTS Community Foundation and Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

 

"Dr. Janice Johnson Dias and the GrassRoots Community Foundation has been a supporter of our schools and helped to install and fund Green Ribbon Week, a mental health awareness week at West Orange High School. We could not be happier that she accepted our invite to speak at this event ," explained Connors.

 

Johnson Dias emphasized that “It is critically important that we all seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black folk in every area of life throughout our history.”

 

She went on to reflect upon the achievements of well and not-too-well known black people, including Woodson, Shirley Jackson, Lewis Lattimer, Marie Van Britton Brown, Garrett Morgan, and Madame CJ Walker.

 

“How can you value black lives if you don’t know black history?” Dr. Johnson Dias asked.

 

“By diminishing the contributions of black people it diminishes all of us … black history IS American history. It IS world history,” she concluded.

 

See all the photos from the Annual Black History Scholarship dinner here and view some clips below.

 WOHS-BHM-002

Advisor Catherine Connors, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, Principal Hayden Moore, SC President Selam Woldai, SC VP Mike Petros, Advisor 

 WOHS Black History Dinner

Advisor Catherine Connors, Student Council Officers Brett  Zeligson, Arthi Sivendra, Selam Woldai, Mike Petros and advisor Katherine Garcia.

 WOHS Black History Dinner

Board Member Terry Triggs-Scales, BOE VP Sandra Mordecai, Mayor Robert Parisi, Principal Hayden Moore, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, Board President Ken Alper, Acting Superintendent Eveny de Mendez, Board member Mark Robertson, and Board member Cheryl Merklinger.

 

 

 

Program Highlights:

 

Presentation of Colors

ROTC                         

          

National Anthem  

Joseph Florendo

 

Lift Every Voice and Sing

Isaiah Adrian

 

Welcome  

Principal, Hayden Moore, Student Council Advisors

Student Council President, Selam Woldai

Student Council VP, Mike Petros

     

Poetry Reading

“Blood Lungs” - Olivia Ridley

                       

Musical Performance

“Motherless Chile”- Eberechi Ekweghariri and Blair Murdock

 

Poetry Reading

Geraldine Louis, Emily Cardona, Chanel Chambliss, and Kai McCall 

 

Speaker

Dr. Janice Johnson-Dias

 

Dance Performance

Kristian Reynolds

 

Poetry Reading

“If a Black Girl Knew” – Mariana Simpson

 

Musical Performance

Jubilee Choir

 

Poetry Reading

“Blackbird” – Kai McCall

 

Musical Performance

“From a Distance”-Stacey Lozin

 

Poetry Reading –

“There shouldn’t be a Black History Month” – Orianna Carter

 

Musical Performance

“Strange Fruit”-Daniella Rodriguez

 

Performance

Girls Step Team- Nu Theta Omega

 

Musical Performance

“Feeling Good”-Indigo Jackson

                                                   

Dance Performance

Ashleigh Phillips

 

Musical Performance

“Respect/Think”- Nyasia Foster, Jordan Scott-Young

                                                                                           

Performance

Boys Step Team- Ab-Salute

 

 

 

 

Cynthia Cumming
Feb. 4, 2019