Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – As part of the celebration of 2023’s Black History Month, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was honored to host his 11th Annual “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” Black History Month celebration on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at the Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts in East Orange, New Jersey. The event celebrated the contributions and legacies of Black Americans to history and the fabric of society across New Jersey and the nation.
This year’s honorees were six-time GRAMMY Award winner and East Orange native, Dionne Warwick, and retired New Jersey State Senator Ronald L. Rice. The event emcee was ABC7 Eyewitness News reporter Toni Yates.
“A single month during the year is not enough time to truly celebrate, honor, and commemorate the enormous contributions of Black Americans throughout our country’s history,” said Sen. Menendez. “From civil rights activists, to engineers, musicians, and leaders – there is a lot to be thankful for, and the best way to demonstrate true appreciation is by continuing to fight tirelessly to end inequality and racism in this country. Our responsibility is to be the shoulders our future generation stand on, just as we stand on the shoulders of giants like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis.”
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Dionne Warwick was honored for her astounding musical contributions and humanitarian actions throughout her 60-year career. In addition to Grammy Awards, Warwick has received the Lifetime Humanitarian award, SupportMusic Appreciation Award, and has been honored by the American Red Ribbon AIDS Foundation.
Retired NJ Senator, Ronald L. Rice received an honorary award for his extensive, life-long service to the State of New Jersey. Rice, the longest-serving Black representative in the New Jersey Senate, served the 28thLegislative District for 35 years from 1986 to 2022.
The event, which was free and open to the public, also included performances by the Cicely L. Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts Choir. Moyo Kehinde, a Nigerian-born singer and alumni of the Cicely L. Tyson School of Performing & Fine Arts, performed the National Anthem.
“We are proud to join Senator Bob Menendez in celebrating and recognizing the significant impact and central role of African Americans in U.S. history. Our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the resilience, ingenuity, perseverance and intelligence of African American people,” said East Orange Mayor Ted R. Green. “East Orange is home to an exceptionally diverse group of people from the Black Diaspora who celebrate Black excellence every single day. During this Black History Month, as I reflect on how much we have achieved standing upon the shoulders of giants like our own Dionne Warwick and Senator Ronald Rice, I also am reminded of how far we still have to go to fulfill the dreams of our ancestors.”
[CLICK THIS LINK TO ACCESS PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT]
Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver also delivered remarks and Reverend Maria Crompton of Elmwood United Presbyterian Church of East Orange performed the invocation. The East Orange Public Safety Honor Guard presented the colors for the event and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Bobbi and Hayden Wilson of Caldwell, New Jersey.
“I am honored to participate in Senator Menendez’s Black History Celebration. Black History is important for me because it is essential to the American story. American history is Black History, which is why I celebrate Black History 365 days of the year,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver. “This year’s theme, ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,’ is very fitting. My giant is Shirley Chisholm whose legacy lives on through me. She said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” This has always been my philosophy in life and is how I got where I am today. During Black History Month, let’s continue to have meaningful discourse about critical issues as we continue to strive for equity and equality in our country.”
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