AY Black History Program 2006: A Cultural Triangular Experience

Have you ever heard of a circular triangle, a triangle that embodies the elements of completeness that is usually associated with a circle? We know of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; mind, body, and spirit; air, land, and water, and we also know of the triangular offense of the legendary Chicago Bulls basketball team with Michael Jordan.

And there is the AY Black History Program of 2006.

Enveloped by a practical, rich environment of African-American cultural artistic values and setting, the AY Black History Program seamlessly integrated the seminal cultural triangularism of:

• The historical-intellectual framework (Dr. R. Clifford Jones)
• Authentic African sounds of music, cultural & spiritual, (First Ghana Seventh-day Adventist Church group), along with an extraordinarily presented series of excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech (presented by three first grade students from the Hanson Place Seventh-day Adventist School)
• A harvest of intellectual and spiritual products that embodies the practical realization of the framework originally laid out by Dr. R. Clifford Jones, (Black Achievers Award Ceremony for four church members, for academic and professional achievements)

2006 Black Achievers Award Recipients

Darlene McPherson	Michelle Greenidge	Bisi Lediju	Bobby Martin

In his opening presentation, after an outstanding rendition of the Black National Anthem by Chelsea Williams, Dr. Jones reminded us that as African-Americans, God is always with us, "...I can do all things through Christ, who strenghtens me..." The authentic African spiritual and cultural sounds of music, beautifully presented by the First Ghana Seventh-day Adventist Church took us back, and reminded us of the enduring strength of our culture, from how far we have come, by faith, and reassures us for the future. The outstanding presentation of excerpts of Dr. King's speech, by the three Grade 1 students, left us in an cataclysmic, emotional, and proud uproar, because, as the host for the evening's program pointed out, we were looking at potential attorneys, doctors, engineers, pastors, yea, potential presidents of the United States of America.

The final and third angle of the AY program was the Black Achievers Award presentation to 4 members of the Hanson Place Church. The awards went to Darlene McPherson, a bright 5th Grade student; Michelle Greenidge, a smart 7th Grade student; Muyinatu "Bisi" Lediju, an extraordinary MIT engineering honors student; and to Bobby Martin, who has a successful career on Wall Street and in Government.

The AY Black History Program, 2006, was both enlightening and inspiring. While it took us and completed the cycle, from the historical-intellectual framework, to our authentic African / spiritual roots and experiences, including our experiences in America, and finally displayed the proud products of the original framework, most importantly, the program reinforced and strengthened our faith and trust in the God of our salvation, that truly, "...I can do all things, through Christ...."

-- Written by Bobby Martin
February 20, 2006