C. J. Hooker Middle School celebrates Black History Month

GOSHEN-C.J. Hooker Middle School held its first-ever Tribute to African-American Leaders in honor of Black History Month on February 23. Gus Lawson, physical education teacher and coach at the middle school, conceived the idea and orchestrated the program with the help of librarian Karen Glenn, library assistant Becky Dendanto, and Spanish teacher Lorraine Hunter. Students paid tribute to a number of black leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, poet Langston Hughes, author Toni Morrison, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, singer Ella Fitzgerald, baseball player Jackie Robinson, singer Bob Marley, and Ruby Bridges, the first black student to attend an all-white school. Excerpts from Dr. King's famous speech, "I Have a Dream," and poems by Langston Hughes were read aloud. Throughout the month, students celebrated black history by reading stories, listening to records, and watching films.