Each year, Lawrence High School holds its annual Black History Month program including musical performances from several of the school’s choirs, a presentation of awards to local trailblazers, and an address from a keynote speaker. This year’s keynote speaker was Newark, NJ mayor, Ras J. Baraka in an event held on Feb. 22, 2025.
Asha McDowell, an English teacher at the high school and one of the program coordinators, said, “This event has been going on for 15 plus years and is important because we as Black people have been here for a long time, we are Black History. To have a celebration of Black people in a place like New Jersey is very much needed.”
The evening’s musical performances by the Lawrence Intermediate School (LIS) choir and Lawrence High School (LHS) choirs included selections from traditional spirituals to jazz and gospel songs.
Lawrence Township Mayor Patricia Hendricks-Farmer said, “This event, from what I understand, is one of the largest celebrations of Black History in New Jersey. I am a graduate of this high school so it has even more of a special meaning to me because when I attended here, I could never have dreamed of such a wonderful celebration of our culture.”
As the night continued, the Trailblazer Awards were presented.
This year’s Trailblazer Honorees were: Kelly Ganges, a Trenton native and former Chief of Staff to past Mercer County Executive, Brian Hughes; Lisa Richardson Hall, the founder of Rays of Hope, a youth-led organization dedicated to fostering leadership through community service and advocacy; and Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin, a distinguished vocalist, arranger, scholar, clinician, and educator.
In addition, a special tribute award was presented to Detective Marlon Webb, who was accompanied on stage by his therapy canine, Sunny. Webb is known for his commitment to restorative justice in his community and for working in ways to help heal the community through dialogue and empathy.
Lawrence Township Councilwoman Olympia I’Liou Perry said, “It’s important for us to show the younger generation that they matter, and that there is hope; the fact that they put this together shows they want to honor the Legacies that went on before them, we are in a position that we need to celebrate the excellence of our Black History and our black people.”
As the featured speaker, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, spoke, the crowd cheered and clapped intensely as his voice commanded the room.
Baraka said, “Raise your voice. Sing your songs. Write your poetry. Solve those problems. Be at the forefront not at the back. Pick your head up. Put your chest out and your shoulders back. Don’t be in the back of the line or the back of the class. Don’t be depressed. Don’t be sad. Don’t be upset. Don’t be humiliated. Don’t be undermined. Don’t be marginalized.”
He continued, “God made you beautiful and Black on purpose. From the broadness of your nose to the thickness of your lips, to the kinks in your hair, to the darkness of your skin. You have the complexion of the universe. You have a special relationship with God!”
Following Baraka’s inspirational speech, another highlight of the evening was a special presentation made by Brooke Hunter, Lawrence Township Historian regarding the Lewisville Historic marker project in Lawrence Township.
Hunter stated, “I’m here to share an image of a new Historic marker that is going to be put up on Lewisville Road celebrating our Black history in Lawrence Township.”
Hunter continued, “This marker is important because it recognizes the earliest community of descendants of African people in the Township that were a vital source of support and community for over a century.”
The evening ended with people gathering in the hallway, then walking to their cars and talking about their experiences.
As one young lady made her way to the exit door, she began to sing the words from the Black National Anthem, “Let us march on, till victory is won!”
This article was produced as part of MCCC’s Community Reporting “J Lab” certificate program made possible by grant funding from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and The New School: Journalism + Design.
