By Aleah Shell
Brad Lander, the Comptroller of NYC, hosted a black history month celebration at the Weeksville Heritage Center located in Brooklyn, to honor influential individuals such as Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of The 1619 Project and an award-winning journalist, Stanley Richards, the President and CEO of The Fortune Society, Inc., and The Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The event opened with a performance by the Empire Marching Elite Band, showcasing an HBCU-style presentation. Speeches were then delivered by Nina Saxon, manager of NYCHA Relations and Faith Communities, and Brad Lander, celebrating the contributions of the evening's honorees.
Frank Humphrey III was also present and sang a soulful hymn of "Wade in the Water" before the honorees were announced.
In his acceptance speech, Stanley Richards shared a personal story, reflecting on his past experiences with incarceration. He spoke about his journey of transformation and how he now uses his voice to advocate for the community he was once a part of.
The Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was recognized for their impactful work in the Brooklyn community, a legacy that has spanned over 70 years. The women of Delta Sigma Theta were elegantly adorned in their signature red attire and pearls, symbolizing their enduring commitment to service.
Nikole Hannah-Jones was the last honoree to take the stage, and before delivering words of wisdom, she stated, "When I was thinking of words to say as we stand on this ancestral land, I realized that our ancestors have said whatever I can say better," and began to read a poem from the book "The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House" by poet, activist, and scholar Audre Lorde."A takeaway for me was the last honoree [Nikole Hannah-Jones] and the poem. I feel what she read was very current and something we all should think about," said attendee Dorothy Crawford.
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