Message from Councilman Roshan (Roc) White | February 7, 2025
With the calendar flipped to February, the Scotch Plains community joins together to observe Black History Month, a tradition dedicated to the history, struggles and achievements of African-Americans.
When I reflect on the importance of this month, it often centers on the hardship and pain that has shaped the Black experience in America. But just as importantly, I recognize the incredible achievement of so many, despite the odds, and the unwavering strength that has come from that pain.
I often think about John Shippen, the golf pro at the historic Shady Rest Country Club on Jerusalem Road, who was the first professional African-American golfer in the United States. Long before there were Black athletic superstars like Jordan and James, Scotch Plains was home to one of America’s very first sports heroes, Shippen.
African-Americans continue to shape our history and inspire us all to do better.
From the fearless leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the timeless prose of Toni Morrison, from the artistic genius of Nina Simone to the business prowess of Oprah Winfrey, and from the athletic dominance of Michael Jordan to the groundbreaking scientific discoveries of Dr. Mae Jemison, the Black community has had an unmistakable and immeasurable impact on American culture.
These great men and women across such a diverse array of fields are testaments to the immense talent and potential of the Black community. Generations will study the examples they set and establish their own paths, forever shooting for the stars.
The story of Black History Month dates back to the summer of 1915, when Carter G. Woodson traveled from Washington D.C. to Chicago, along with thousands of other African-Americans, to view exhibits highlighting the progress made by the Black community since the end of slavery.
Moved by the exhibits, Woodson created a new organization: the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). This organization began recognizing “Negro Achievement Week” in February 1926, to coincide with the existing celebrations for the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
Fifty years later, President Gerald Ford cemented Black History Month as an annual tradition “to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of our endeavor throughout history.”
We continue to honor this tradition through events organized to educate people about both Black history and present.
Union County kicked off Black History Month this past Monday with a Pan-African flag raising at the Union County Courthouse in downtown Elizabeth. The iconic red, black and green has been adopted as the color set of numerous African countries and is used by many civil rights organizations in the continuing fight for justice and unity.
On Thursday, Feb. 13, Union County and the City of Rahway are presenting live jazz at Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton St., Rahway. Come out for “Grown Groovin” at 7 p.m. with saxophonist Anthony E. Nelson Jr., bassist Kenny Davis, and drummer Winard Harper. This free Black History Month performance will also feature the presentation of the 2025 Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award. Click here to RSVP.
I also encourage you to attend a seminar on African-Americans and Labor at Union College’s Victor M. Richel Student Commons on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The seminar begins at noon and will feature guest speaker Petal Robertson, Secretary-Treasurer of the New Jersey Education Association. Click here to register for the event, on the campus at 1033 Springfield Ave. in Cranford.
