Black History Month at Asbury Park Schools

After the students at Asbury Park Middle School participated in the Superior Court of New Jersey Monmouth Vicinage “Journey to Justice Program” mock trial for a third consecutive year, Tara L. Williams,member of The Black History Committee of the Monmouth Vicinage’s Superior Court of New Jersey, contacted Mr. Wronko, social studies teacher, to have his along with Mr. Mason’s, science teacher, and Mr. Abu’s, social studies teacher, classes to witness a spectacular Black History Month Program at the Monmouth Courthouse in Freehold, New Jersey.

Black History Month At Asbury Park High School

The program was titled, A Century of Black Life, History and Culture. This event in which the students from Mr. Wronko’s, Mr. Mason’s, and Mr. Abu’s classes enjoyed had presentations about Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, live performances of special jazz selections, singers, and dancers. In addition, there were displays of artwork of Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and so much more.

Black History Month Events

Below were some of the events during this program (This was taken out of the pamphlet of the Superior Court of New Jersey Monmouth Vicinage Black History Month Program):

• Historical Dramatization – Nelson Mandela
• Joseph M. Champagne Jr., Esq.
• Mayor, South Toms River and
• Member of the Monmouth Vicinage
  Advisory Committee on Minority Concerns
• Musical Selection “A change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
  Talib Mohammed
• Theatrical Performance “Do You Still Dream? The Life of Martin
  Luther King Jr.”
• Playwright Kenneth G. Craddox, Bishop’s Kid Productions
• Actors: Talib Mohammed, Shanda Berry, Christina Clemonts, Chanelle
  Dunn, Stephanie Miller, Quaimere Mohammed
• Musicians: Calvin Berry, Ed Craddox, Mike Craddox

Black History Month historical figures

Last year Tara L. Williams and Valerie Frage, member of The Black History Month Committee of the Monmouth Vicinage’s Superior Court of New Jersey, came to Asbury Park Middle School on February 26, 2013 to see Mr. Wronko’s and Mr. William’s social studies classes present power point and oral presentations on historical figures in Black History.

Some of the presentations were based on the lives of James Forten, Marie Therese Metoyer, Crispus Attucks, Prince Hall, Salem Poor, Rosa Parks, and Thurgood Marshall.

Nicholas Baldwin

The celebration did not end there. African American History peaked on July 30, 2013 with Nicholas Baldwin, Asbury Park High School student. Nicholas Baldwin had presented an oral report about Martin Luther King Jr. This presentation took place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C.

T. Thomas Fortune Project

Currently, the SPOT at the Asbury Park High School in conjunction with the T. Thomas Fortune Project presented “The People Speak”, Voices from Our Past and Present.

This was a dramatic re-speak of significant and powerful words from African Americans in the United States.

54th Massachusetts Regiment

In addition to the events at the high school, Mr. Wronko had his students from Asbury Park Middle School write a serious of episodes on “What Do You Think Will Happen Next” using the movie “Glory.” The movie “Glory” was about the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.

The 54th Massachusetts Regiment was one of the first African American units during the time of the Civil War. The soldiers in this unit fought for their rights and freedom during a hostile time of racism and division in the country.