Newark Students Raise Black Liberation Flag At History Month Event

NEWARK, NJ — A large crowd of students at a high school in Newark raised the Black Liberation flag to commemorate Black History Month last week.

According to Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele, a history and Africana studies teacher at Weequahic High School, the flag raising was held in an attempt to “fire up the conscious levels” of students and staff.

Gathering in the Ronald Stone Gymnasium, the students heard from several speakers and saw performances that included:

• Welcome Address - Principal Thomas
• Libation to the Ancestors - Mr. Akinyele / Weequahic Student Triumphant Ayodele along with African Drumming featuring Ob Baraka and Mr. Rashad
• The Black National Anthem / Lift Every Voice And Sing - performed by Weequahic Student Javiah Johnson
• Significance of the Black Liberation Flag - by Weequahic student Sarah Nwanjoku
• Black Liberation Flag Performance - WHS Band, Dancers, and Flagtwirlers with Mr. Rucker
• Woke / Conscious Raising Poetry - by Ms. Blamah-Sah / Weequahic Student Keia Smith and Aquiyah Mutahhir
• Importance of Black History and Black History Month - Newark Public School Superintendent Roger Leon, Newark Board of Education President Dawn Haynes
• African Dance Performance - WHS Dancing Royalty
• Closing the program with Seven Harambe - Mr. Akinyele
• Closing remarks - Principal Thomas

According to Akinyele, community stakeholders joining in solidarity with Weequahic High School included:

• Newark Councilwoman-At-Large Rev Louise Roundtree
• Newark Southward Councilman Pat Council
• Brick City Peace Collective / New Black Panther Party member Sharif Amenhotep
• New Direction’s Shade Dukes
• Newark Street Academy’s Middy Murdock
• Newark Street Academy’ Knowledge of Self Specialist The God Elavation Bethea
• Newark Community Activist Hassan Kirby

After the flag raising ceremony, the students were then dismissed to their next class.

The event was one of several activities scheduled to take place at Weequahic High School in February for Black History Month. Other plans include a daily trivia contest, “Wisdom Wednesdays” set aside to teach Black history, a movie screening, a cultural food staff potluck and a door decorating contest.

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