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Famous African Americans with Disabilities, What it Means to Be a Man: Black History Month Assembly

Famous African Americans with Disabilities, What it Means to Be a Man: Black History Month Assembly

The St. Sebastian's community gathered in Ward Hall for the annual Black History Month Assembly, "Famous African Americans with Disabilities," "What it Means to Be a Man" on Monday, February 3. The gathering was filled with powerful words and music.

The assembly began with a welcome from Men with Positive Attitudes President Joseph Sullivan '25 and an opening prayer from Fr. John Arens. Throughout the assembly, music was performed by Mr. Meyer Chambers on piano.

Readings highlighted famous African Americans with disabilities and included Fannie Lou Hamer, American voting and women's rights activist, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, American singer-songwriters and pianists, and Barbara Jordan, educator, Federal Legislator, Civil Rights activist, and attorney. Student readers were Tristen Alexander '27, Carter Dedier '26, Joseph Koh '26, and Quincy Quillard '27.

Wachira Njoroge '26 and Benjamin Osunsanya '26 introduced the guest speaker Ms. Allison S. Cartwright, Esq., Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for the County of Suffolk. Ms. Cartwright is the second woman and first black person to hold this position since its inception in 1693. She gave a heartfelt, compelling speech on how she chose to be as excellent as she could be in any situation she was in and how she followed her passions and was open to opportunities, which led her to the position she is now in. She gave these same concepts as assignments to St. Sebastian's students in the audience.

Thank you to Mr. Meyer Chambers and the members of Men with Positive Attitudes, and a special thank you to Ms. Cartwright for your message.