By Grant Hochmuth
At a time where it can feel easier to argue than connect, building community across differences feels impossible. February challenges that notion through Black History Month, a time to celebrate black achievements and reflect on the past that has shaped our contemporary society.
That notion moved off the page and into the ACC Ballroom as the campus came together to hear the words of Reverend Ronald English, who served as assistant minister to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event aimed to connect the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement to the issues society is facing today.
Among those in attendance was history Professor Gary Kroll, who said the event offered more than just a lesson on the past.
“We are living in a moment in which we are seeing many Americans who wish to reverse the legacy of the ‘50s and ‘60s and a lot of other work that’s been since then,” Kroll said. “That was a victory right? And to see that victory become something odious, something that needs to be reversed, its demoralizing and disheartening and I want students to understand that the movement to reverse the ‘60s can’t be tolerated”
The event also featured performances from the SUNY Plattsburgh Gospel Choir and student pianist Robert Sims. Sims reflected on his experience following the event.
“For me, this event was showing what black excellence is and showing how we listen to music and how we can perform music,” Sims said. “To show our goals, and how meaningful and impactful it is.”
For Dexter Criss, the artistic director of the gospel choir, the music is more than a performance, it’s a connection to the people.
“The last song really showed some pent up emotions some students have,” Criss said. “I think all students, but especially students of color. That song ‘Let Their Voices Sing’ means so much to so many kids who grew up in the black community.”
For many in the room, English’s speech served as an emotional and intellectually charged center point of their evenings. After the program, English reflected on what advice he would give young people who might feel trapped in this system of division.
“One of the greatest phrases that explains our situation now is, ‘When it is darkest, we see the stars,’ and therefore, the dark moments are not all that bad because really, creation came out of chaos,” English said. “Even in this time of Trumpism, because it means we get another opportunity of proving history in terms of how out of chaos comes cosmos.”
Connecting the lessons of the evening to the larger idea of Black History Month, English shared his perspective on the celebration of reflection.
“We have a long memory, and that’s part of the jubilation that you have from the excitement,” English said. “And that kind of ignites our mind and our spirit and our body to move against some situation that we often see and then get to understand our own ability to change,”
As the applause faded and the music lingered in the air, English’s message held strong. Remembering the past is only meaningful if it inspires action in the present. For English and those in attendance, Black History Month serves as a celebration and a challenge: To reflect, connect and to keep love inside your heart.
