NAACP at Northwest Catholic in honor of Black History Month

NAACP Hartford Chapter President Maxien Robinson-Lewin and 1st Vice President Joan H. Gibson spoke at Northwest Catholic on February 27th in honor of Black History Month.

President Robinson-Lewin welcomed the audience, thanked them for inviting the NAACP, and began her talk with a brief discussion of the early, unjust voter registration process for African Americans. Providing just a taste of the country’s troubled history and highlighting the struggle for African Americans, she passed the microphone to her colleague, Joan H. Gibson, who gave the keynote address.

Ms. Gibson began her remarks referencing Billy Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” explaining to the students that the “fruit” that Holiday sang of wasn’t fruit at all, but rather lynched bodies swinging from trees. Lest this seem shocking for a morning assembly, imagine how shocking it was for the witnesses. One thing is certain — Gibson’s opener silenced the audience. The room of 500 wouldn’t have heard a pin even if one had dropped.

Gibson went on to declare that “lynching takes a new form today” and reminded the students that racism continues to rear its ugly head. She added, “When we don’t participate in the solution, when we don’t exercise our constitutional rights, we pass the problem on to the next generation.”

Gibson was all about using politics and policies to eradicate racism, “to make it easier for people of color to accomplish things.” She also talked about personal responsibility and assured the students that “blackface is not a childish prank: it’s an affront to people of color all over the world.” She espoused fundamental life lessons that we need to hear again and again, such as, “Before you do anything, ask yourself how you would feel if it were done to you.”

Gibson gave a history lesson of the NAACP to the captive audience. She talked of its beginnings as the Niagra Movement with leaders like W.E.B. Dubois. Slides with the organization’s mission statement, vision statement, governance structure, and historical timeline were projected behind her as she walked the audience through the organizations 100+ year history, with special attention to its beginnings in Hartford.

She spoke of the power of the NAACP, of how the organization is the first point of contact when racism appears. She gave the example of racial profiling, and she spoke of explicit materials that the organization creates to help protect young black men and women from becoming the victims of violence perpetrated by police. Gibson pulled no punches.

She is a proud “diamond life member of the NAACP,” and she compelled the audience to “Eliminate racism. Eliminate it!” She continued, “You can become an ambassador. When you see racism, call it out. Don’t turn a blind eye. Don’t turn a deaf ear. Be willing to take a bold stand and speak against injustice.”

Wednesday’s assembly was organized by Social Studies Department Chair Paul Fitzpatrick. After the presentation, Fitzpatrick said, “While my students read and discuss history, this was a rare opportunity to listen to someone who has actually lived history. The presentation was extremely powerful and genuine.”

Senior Alton Grange of Bloomfield remarked, “Black identity has always been an important part of my family. My mom always tells me how important our history is, and I always felt that black identity is part of that history.” Grange continued, “When the NAACP presenters came, I felt a connection, I felt that it was a chance to talk about my insecurities with people who want to help. The presentation reminded me that our struggles are not over, that people like me all over the world are hurting, and that the NAACP are there to help.” Grange spoke with Ms. Gibson after the presentation. Later he said, “I confessed my own insecurities, and I was told that when I get home, I should look in the mirror, and say ‘I love myself from my curly black hair to the soles of my feet’ and to repeat that over and over. I felt pride. It was comforting to get those unspoken feelings off my chest, and now I want to help people in the same way. I’m planning on joining the youth organization of the NAACP so I can offer those words of comfort and pride to other people.”

Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford is a diverse, Catholic, co-ed, college preparatory community, educating the whole person — mind, body, spirit, and imagination since 1961. Learn more at northwestcatholic.org.