Message at Black History Month celebration: ‘See the greatness around you’

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – These singers from Ephesus Ministries in Buffalo perform “Ride On King Jesus” during a Black History Month celebration on Friday evening at the Clifford Wise Intermediate School Auditorium.

Pictured from left include Renee Mapp, Char Hamilton, Shannon Louise Carter and Daniel Doctor. Carter is a pastor at Ephesus and Doctor, an elder at that church, is the Medina school district’s director of Community Partnerships. Doctor also leads the West Side Academy of Visual and Performing Arts in Medina.

He organized the first Black History celebration for the community this month.

Upcoming programs that are free at the middle school auditorium include:

• On Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. the film Hidden Figures will be shown. Hidden Figures tells the story about an amazing team of African American women mathematicians who played an important role in the U.S. space race at NASA.
• Feb. 29 at 6:30 p.m. will feature a keynote speaker who has 15 years of experience working as an educator and administrator in Texas. Patrick Briggs is passionate about ensuring that all students achieve high levels of academic success, thereby enabling them to be prepared for college and career opportunities after completing high school.

Students from the West Side Academy of Visual and Performing Arts opened Friday’s program with a dance. Daniel Doctor, leader of West Side, joined his students in the presentation.

Char Hamilton sings the Black National Anthem.

“Lift every voice and sing,

‘Til earth and heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise

High as the list’ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on ’til victory is won.”

Daniel Doctor, right, interviews Matthew Clark during Friday’s program. Clark runs a dance academy in Buffalo and has coached American and Canadian national teams to world championships.

Clark suffered a massive stroke 10 years ago, and has defied doctor’s expectations by regaining the ability to walk and dance. He said “perseverance and prayer” have brought him through those trials.

He told about 30 people at the event at Medina that God has worked a miracle in his life. He urged parents and teachers to support kids in pursuing their dreams.

“Never discourage your children from doing what they love,” he said.

Christian “CJ” Jones dances to tap. He won a gold medal at the World Tap Dance Championship in 2007 in Riesa, Germany, where more than 1,000 dancers from 17 countries competed.

Jones is the nephew of Matthew Clark. Jones credited his uncle with teaching him to dance when Jones was only 2. Jones said he puts his passion into his dances, and emerges as a crowd favorite at competitions.

Doctor said Jones is an example of the power of a teacher inspiring and believing in a student.

The program on Friday featured several performers who have won accolades. Shannon Louise Carter, who joined Doctor in two others in singing “Rise On King Jesus,” is an author of seven books.

Doctor said people often overlook the talents of their neighbors and other community members.

“See the greatness around you,” Doctor implored the audience. “You never know who you’re sitting next to.”

The African American Cultural Center in Buffalo – African Dance and Drum performed and then discussed the influence of African American pioneers in dance and music.