By:Jerry Burke
In recognition of that month, the Elmont Community Awareness Program (ECAP) and Elmont Online joined forces to present a collaboration of song and spoken word at the groups' first annual Black History Month Celebration at Clara H. Carlson School last Sunday.
Hundreds of members of the community filled the school's auditorium to not only celebrate the legacy of African Americans, but also to display the talent of Elmont's youth. Members of the Elmont School District band and jazz ensemble, the Elmont Memorial High School chorus and the Sewanhaka High School Dramatica and Poetry Club performed for the crowd, each invoking not only the artistic contributions of African Americans, but also their own works and thoughts.
"This Elmont Online and ECAP Black History Month Day brought our entire community together to share and celebrate our rich diversity of cultures," said Assemblyman Tom Alfano.
Alfano was also on hand to present his 21st Assembly District's Martin Luther King Jr. Award to Elmont fixture Livingston Chrichlow. The award is presented by Alfano each year to a member of the community who furthers the cause of civic action to unite all people. "It's really a testament to his service, vision and love of people," said Alfano.
Chrichlow, who moved to Elmont in 1975 from Brooklyn, is a member of the Parkhurst Civic Association and served as president for 12 years. "When I first came to Elmont," said Elmont School Board President Aubrey Phillips, "He was the man I looked to as a model of what it was to be part of a community."
Chrichlow said that receiving an award named after King was quite humbling. "His unparalleled power of speech gave people the courage to fight," Chrichlow said of the civil rights leader, noting that there was still much work to be done. "Until textbooks are fully updated to reflect the contributions of African Americans, we need Black History Month to educate all of the people."
The crowd wasn't through with Chrichlow yet, however. He was also honored by the ECAP and Elmont Online with the inaugural Dr. Carter G. Woodson Black History Month Award. Joking that earning two such honors forced him to write two separate acceptance speeches, Chrichlow took the time to remind the crowd that in addition to the names of King, Rosa Parks and Jackie Robinson, many African Americans have contributed in ways not often thought of.
"The men who invented the modern street sweeper and the machine that attaches the soles to a shoe in one minute were both black," he said. "There is no aspect of American life not touched by us."
Chrichlow ended his speech with a call for a continuing push forward for justice and equality. Quoting King, he said, "If you will protest courageously, and yet with dignity ... when the history books are written in future generations, the historians will have to pause and say, 'There lived a great people -- a black people -- who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization.'"
The afternoon concluded with performances by the Valley Stream Baptist Church Choir and the Voices of Unity Gospel Chorus from SUNY New Paltz, as well as a performance of poems by New Paltz student Lee Riley called "A Walk with Aunt Sarah."
For more photos of the even, see our Neighbors in the News on page 23.
