By Gabrielle Yanovitz
On a cold Friday evening in February, longtime Hempstead residents, public officials and community members gathered at Hempstead Town Hall for an annual celebration. As every seat in the room filled and conversations settled, attendees were met with much more than a yearly event. What ensued was a meaningful evening of Black expression, art, culture and powerful storytelling that resonated during Black History Month.
Hempstead Town held its annual Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 21, bringing together hundreds to commemorate African American history and accomplishments on Long Island and beyond. The evening’s many performances excited attendees. As well, there were recognitions of community service and insightful guest speakers who filled the night with empowerment.
Amun Raheem Handa, a celebration volunteer, spoke on the importance of holding events like this to spread knowledge of Black heritage. “People just think of Dr. Martin Luther King, but there are other Black contributors that have been successful, and unfortunately they don’t get recognized,” Handa said. “We use these types of events so that people in general get to see the accomplishments of other Black community leaders.”
Program highlights included musical and dance performances by the Roosevelt High School chorus, 12 Tribes Dance Ministry and Roosevelt Golden Majorettes. Additionally, students from Laurissa Jane Music Group presented “Celebrating Black Inventors,” a recognition of several African American innovators whose creations have shaped American society.
The town also presented several awards to Black residents and organizations who have performed outstanding community service. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, nurses, retail employees and social justice advocates were among those recognized.
The celebration was hosted and organized by Deputy Town Supervisor Dorothy Goosby with Supervisor Don Clavin. Goosby, who started the celebration 27 years ago, is the first African American woman to serve on the Town Board.
“It’s a night that is for us and something that we should always remember,” Goosby said. “We are doing the very best we can with everything that we have.”
As 2025 will mark Goosby’s 25th year in service, Clavin noted Goosby’s significant contributions to the town that have uplifted voices across communities and throughout Nassau County.
Commemorating African Americans and labor
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History designates a national theme for Black History Month each year. For 2025, the theme was “African Americans and Labor,” meant to highlight the relationships between diverse areas of labor and the collective experiences of Black people across the U.S.
The evening’s keynote speaker, educator, author and social justice advocate Dr. Willie Tolliver, shared several anecdotes of Black connections with labor in America, in addition to his personal stories. Tolliver noted that many Black Americans have ancestors who originated as enslaved people and found solitude in domestic life and occupations, propelling them to move forward and discover success.
“After that history, here I stand,” Tolliver said. “What was meant to destroy us actually fueled us like rockets to fly.”
Attendee Anna Muhammad, an educator in the Roosevelt School District, said she was moved by Tolliver’s words and reflected on how Black Americans continue to show excellence through various forms of labor.
“Historically, we’ve helped to build this country as so many other groups,” she said. “Today, I’m so proud to see the young people continuing the legacy of education, culture and diversity of skills and gifts.”
2025 also marks the 100th anniversary of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids, the first all-Black labor union in the U.S. The founder of the union, A. Philip Randolph, was an iconic civil rights activist and labor unionist who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the planning of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
A celebration of community
Other celebration attendees like Agnes Ford-Burgess of Freeport said the sharing of history during these events brings Hempstead Town residents closer together. “It’s a camaraderie, it’s community, it’s fellowship,” Ford-Burgess said. “It builds energy, an energy of courage, encouragement that you can take on and grow.”
Goosby said the annual celebration serves as a reminder to residents to honor their heritage beyond February and continue for future generations. “You can make sure we keep moving and not let anybody stop us,” Goosby said. “We do what we have to do because these young people are depending on us.”
The evening drew to a cheerful close with a feast of traditional soul food for attendees to enjoy.
