ABC’s Byron Pitts keynotes Huntington’s Black History Month Celebration
Huntington Station – ABC News “Nighline” co-Anchor Byron Pitts told the audience at the Town of Huntington’s annual Black History Month Celebration that everyone should consider service – to the community and to others – as an important part of their lives.
“All of us have a responsibility to serve,” Pitts said in delivering a rousing keynote address at the February 4 event. “All of us have a responsibility to share the gifts God has given us with others.”
“I urge you to have big dreams in for your life, and that your dreams include not only your success, but the success of your family, and not just the success of your family, but the success of this great community, but not just the success of Huntington, but the success of our nation, because despite what you often see on television, and what you may often read in the newspaper, it is that America is still the greatest country on earth. Despite our many flaws, despite our troubled history, we remain the envy of the world, and the promise of America is unlike that of any place on earth.”
Pitts traced his own personal history, and the people who helped him overcome obstacles that included learning difficulties and a stutter, as well as incorrect assessments of his abilities. “I am a witness to what can happen when good and decent people invest in young people,” he said.
At the ceremony, which was held at the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School, each of the Town Board members spoke about Black History Month, its theme and its significance.
Supervisor Frank P. Petrone noted that the theme for this year, as established by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, is “Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories.” Huntington, he noted, had several such sites spanning the Town, including the Jupiter Hammon House in Huntington, where the country’s first published African-American poet lived; the hamlet of Greenlawn, in whose development businessman Samuel Ballton (the Pickle King) played a significant role; and the Dix Hills home where jazz legend John Coltrane spent his final years. “These sites are inspirations,” Supervisor Petrone said, “just a few of those memories that keep us together, memories that are part of your ancestors, part of your families, part of the struggles, part of this Town, part of African-Americans making history in the Town of Huntington and being leaders in the Town of Huntington.”
Councilman Mark Cuthbertson cited an incident in a South Carolina church last year in which nine persons who had gathered for bible study were killed by someone who expressed hatred toward them and a recent incident in which a college student from South Huntington had been the victim of a racial attack in Albany. “It highlights that we have so much work, so much to do,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we have to have faith. We have to have faith that as a society we will continue to fight discrimination and racial hatred. Because in the end the good people of our community far outnumber the bad, and those whose lives are guided by faith and hope far outnumber those whose lives are guided by fear and hatred.”
Councilwoman Susan A. Berland cited the continuing inspiration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Let us continue his legacy by giving back to our community and following in his footsteps,” she said. “Dr. Martin Luther King led by example. We should honor his legacy by doing the same. Let us take this opportunity to celebrate our common humanity and make a better future for all of us.”
Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards added, “While it is wonderful and we should celebrate and honor Martin Luther King, and it is wonderful that we celebrate and come together for Black History Month, we are African-Americans in March, we are African-Americans for 12 months of the year, and we want to make sure that we continue to work as a community and we continue to be together and work with all of the other ethnicities to make Huntington stronger than it has ever been.”
Councilman Eugene Cook directed his remarks to Mr. Pitts. “Thank you for inspiring us all,” he said. “The struggles you have gone through, the hardship. But you’ve made it.”
The program also featured performances by The Voices of Huntington, a group composed of members from the Town’s black churches; The Redettes, dance group directed by Yvette Brideau; and a dramatic reading by Sade Benitez. The national anthem was sung by Leon Jamison; Courtney Daniels led the singing of the Negro National Anthem. County Legis. Dr. William Spencer delivered the invocation and Bishop Stephanie B. Riddle-Green gave the benediction.
Special thanks were given to the sponsor, Steve Martin of New York Life; to Flowerdale by Patty for donating centerpieces; and Copenhagen Bakery for donating pastries and cookies.