Applause filled Uniondale Public Library’s community room, celebrating Black History Month with performances through music, spoken word and creative expression.
Junior Friends, a community service organization of sixth-12th graders from the Uniondale school district, at the library organized the event. The group’s purpose is to give back to the community. And on Feb 19, they celebrated Black history, culture and achievements.
“Junior Friends is such a surreal community, because no matter where people come from, they all tend to show their personalities at Junior Friends,” Said Corie Mason, 17, President of Uniondale Public Library’s Junior Friends. “Whether it’s through volunteering, and we help put on these types of programs all the time.”
“I love Black History Month, where our people can come together and unite as one whole community,” said Junior Friend dancer, and Uniondale High School student Matthew Kirlew, 15. “I think that’s really special.”
The Junior Friends planned a surprise to involve the audience before their last performance. The group encouraged an open-mic, encouraging the audience to express themselves through spoken word or song, emphasizing that Black History Month is more than honoring history but about uplifting present-day voices in the community.
High School student and one of the performers, Gloria Antoine, 15, said the event was about creating a space where people could feel confident by expressing who they are.
“This is a place where you can be yourself, show your culture, show other people what you can do and how beautiful different cultures are,” Antoine said. “And if they all mix together, you could see a wonderful, beautiful thing.”
Beyond the celebration, many of the performances emphasized the importance of celebrating culture and spreading awareness. Kirlew noted that Black History Month is not only for the Black community but for everyone.
“People, not just Black people, but everyone, should know what we fought for, what we did in the past, and how we got to this place,” Kirlew said. “It doesn’t matter what your race or nationality is. I think everyone should know about Black History Month.”
The message of unity was one that resonated throughout the evening. Performers danced to a piece of Black media, like the song “Stand Up” by Cynthia Erivo and Joshuah Brian Campbell. Shillon Mitchell, 15, presented the inauguration poem “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman.
Jessie Mason, 15, a Uniondale High School student and performer, said she hoped audience members left feeling empowered. She wanted to show that Junior Friends members are talented and capable of achieving anything they set their minds to.
A special performance for Nicole Henderson was when her son Cole Lawry, a member of Junior Friends, performed, as she believes events like this are also vital for young people.
“If you don’t know about your past, you’ll never know about your future,” Henderson said. “It’s important to learn about your history and to celebrate it and be proud of it.”
The night served more than just a program on the library’s calendar, the Black History Month celebration highlighted the library’s role as a space for young people in the community to grow as leaders and uplift each other.
Junior Friends showed that Black History Month is both a time to honor the past and celebrate the young voices of the future. There was also a reminder of the potential of talent and education within the next generation and celebration of Black history.
After the performances, guests gathered to talk and reflect on the evening. Before leaving, attendees received a take-home craft of a small decorative banner as keepsakes of the celebration.
“We have a vast and beautiful culture, a lot of times, things get lost between generations,” Henderson said. “To continue and see so many young participants, it’s a great event to have.”
