A surge of pride, empowerment and unity filled the Weeksville Heritage Center on Tuesday during a Black History Month celebration, with community members honoring the contributions of Black New Yorkers in shaping the city’s past, present and future.
The celebration, hosted by city Comptroller Brad Lander, began with a lively performance by the Empire Marching Elite, a community HBCU-style marching band comprised of musicians of all ages. Following the performance, the crowd was treated to a stirring rendition of Wade in the Water by actor and singer Frank Humphrey II, known for his role in the TV show All the Queen’s Men (BET+).
Among the honorees were Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project; Stanley Richards, president and chief executive officer of The Fortune Society; and the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
“This [Weeksville] is a powerful ground we are standing on, and it inspires so much of the work that we do in the comptroller’s office,” said Lander. “We believe that financial assets are a critical resource for building community, and when you have those resources, you must think about what the implications are.”
The most powerful moment of the evening came during the commemoration of each honoree, which highlighted their achievements, underscoring their resilience in confronting the deep-rooted injustices of racism. Their stories were not just of success, but of unyielding strength in the face of systemic oppression.
Through The Fortune Society, a New York-based nonprofit supporting formerly incarcerated individuals, Richards said he has dedicated his life to criminal justice reform after being incarcerated himself.
“I am committed to honoring the legacy and elevating the remarkable individuals who have charted a path before me,” he said. “They remind us that activism is not just a role to fulfill but a profound responsibility rooted in deep commitment to our communities.”
At one point, the room was filled with a sea of red as members of the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. gathered. Represented on stage by President Kenya Johnson, the chapter has been a guiding force for Brooklyn’s youth for 75 years.
The event concluded with a powerful speech by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, known for her work at The New York Times exposing racial inequality, particularly in the American school system.
“I stand here in celebration, but I have to admit I am not feeling celebratory today,” said Jones. “My heart is heavy about the state of our country, and I’m aware that while we hold this commemoration of Black history, similar celebrations across the country are being cancelled.”
As she spoke, the room grew silent as she reminded the audience that the structures of racism are not relics of the past but are actively maintained today, affecting real people in tangible ways.
“The books that teach our history are being pulled off the shelves. Our students are watching our history being destroyed and erased from the public sphere. People working on issues of diversity are being fired from their jobs,” Jones said. “We are in an unprecedented and unparalleled moment, and while I was thinking about what I would say on this ancestral land, I realized that our ancestors have already said it better.”
