On Friday evening, students, faculty, relatives and community members gathered at Albany High to celebrate the culmination of Black History Month 2025.
The theme of this year’s celebration, "Sankofa," emphasized the importance of embracing knowledge from the past to make positive strides towards the future. "Sankofa," a term from the Twi language of the Akan Tribe of Ghana, translates to "go back and get it," symbolized by a bird with its head turned back but feet pointed forward.
My Brother’s Keeper fellows Phillip Walcott and Rashad Miller provided a warm welcome and introduction to kick off the evening, along with Principal Jodi Commerford.
Guests were captivated by a variety of performances and speeches, and we were thrilled that the following Falcons shared their gifts and talents with us:
- Ndibola Juma, Black National Anthem performance
- Serenity Allen, Naji Rasul and Alaya Rodriguez, student voice performances
- Gelissa Philips, vocal performance
- Albany High cosmetology students, African hairstyles showcase
- Dynamic Illusion, dance performance
Albany High alum Leann Iste recited a remarkable original poem, while David Graham delivered an energizing hand drum performance. Nanny’s Double Dutch League entertained the audience with a jaw-dropping demonstration!
Guest speaker Anthony Gaddy, Co-Founder and President/CEO of the Upstate New York Black Chamber of Commerce, delivered a thoughtful and inspiring address. Local re-enactor Kim Wafer brought to life the significant contributions of Black leader Shirley Chisholm.
The audience also enjoyed presentations from local representatives of several Black fraternities and sororities, who highlighted their rich history and social impact.
In closing, we share a poignant excerpt from Leann Iste's poetry peformance,
"You use your words to try to stomp us out. But our will, our determination, our authenticity cannot be bridled."
We are grateful to everyone who participated in this meaningful event and remain committed to celebrating the incredible contributions that Black students, faculty and community members bring to our school, our local community and the world.
