Rockville Centre celebrates past and present

To commemorate Black History Month, the Rockville Centre/Lakeview Economic Opportunity Council — along with the Rockville Centre Youth Council, Senior Youth Council and Headstart Program — hosted an event called “A Look Back on History” in the basement conference room of the Rockville Centre Public Library on Feb. 17.

The event, which ran for approximately 45 minutes, began with a few words from program and acting director of the EOC, Vern Jinks, who provided the opening remarks and then introduced guests one by one. Among them was newly elected Assemblyman Brian Curran who thanked the crowd and encouraged them to visit his new office in Lynbrook if they needed any assistance. Elaine Petry, one of the guests, then led the congregation with a rendition of The Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

The Junior and Senior Youth Councils of Rockville Centre were next in the program, offering a dramatic presentation which began with a song: “The More We Get Together.” That was followed by a presentation from students who paraded around the crowd carrying once-familiar signs of protest that called for racial justice, echoing the 1960s Civil Rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Among the signs were placards that read “No Justice, No Peace” and “Equal Rights.”

King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the March on Washington was later played, after which a high school student provided historical commentary. Another student then recited Langston Hughes’ poem “I Dream a World.”

The historical theme of the program continued as students played the role of news anchors, and interviewed another student who played the role of abolitionist Harriet Tubman. The news anchors also retold the Rosa Parks bus protest incident as another look back on African-American History. The program wrapped up with the interview of a student who played President Barack Obama, who was asked about his thoughts on contemporary black culture.

After closing remarks by Jinks, the audience was invited to enjoy refreshments inside the library.