Mount St. Dominic Academy Holds Memorable Black History Month Assembly

Immersing themselves in the vibrant theme of this year’s Black History Month, "African Americans and the Arts," members of the Mount St. Dominic Academy Diversity Club, with the support of Mrs. Nicole Perez-Cheddie ‘10, the club's Moderator and a Social Studies Teacher and Department Head, hosted an unforgettable school-wide assembly to kick off the month-long celebration at the Mount—an independent Catholic college preparatory school for girls nestled in the picturesque town of Caldwell, NJ.

Arianna Jean-Philippe '25 provided an insightful introduction to the assembly, emphasizing that
Black History Month goes beyond common milestones like the civil rights movement. It's an opportunity to recognize the extensive contributions to America by African Americans. She traced the origin of Black History Month back to 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded "Negro History Week" to highlight these contributions.
Officially recognized as Black History Month in 1976 by President Gerald Ford, it now commemorates the achievements of African Americans throughout U.S. history and has
become a global observance.

The assembly continued with a compelling reading of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Olivia
Bayuelo ‘27. It was accompanied by an a capella rendition of the hymn performed by members of the school's Lord's Chords choir, including Bridget Castano '24, Madeline Bonarrigo '26, Shayla Montgomery '26, Madison McAllister '25, Kara Castano '26, and Alexa Leiva-Carrasco
'26. Bayuelo elaborated on the significance of the hymn, often dubbed "The Black National
Anthem," which began as a poem written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900, and later became a song when his brother John Rosamond Johnson composed the music for the lyrics. She said that adopted by the NAACP, the song played a pivotal role as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement.

Bridget Castano '24 and Madeline Bonarrigo '26 then initiated a musical feature, providing a
brief overview of the often overlooked contributions of African Americans to music, with a special focus on Grammy Award-winning musician Jon Batiste. The program continued with an art showcase by Sadani Michel '24, Arianna Jean-Philippe '25, and Olivia Bayuelo '27,
showcasing the impactful statement-making works of Jean-Michel Basquiat. A dance feature by
Shayla Montgomery '26 and Janiyah Dunmore '26 spotlighted the achievements and impact of
Black representation in ballet by Misty Copeland.

Infectious energy was evident, marked by the dynamic presence of Derby Ozioma Chukwudi, Miss New Jersey USA 2023, who had followed the student presenters and effortlessly engaged with the students as the esteemed keynote speaker. Ms. Chukwudi, a member of the Global Investment Strategy team at JP Morgan Private Bank, reflected on her personal journey emphasizing the importance of integrity, self-awareness, honesty, and confidence for women. She encouraged the audience to embrace their uniqueness, understand their value, and recognize that confidence comes from noting that how you speak about yourself, even if it only
to yourself, is critically important. Drawing from her own experiences, including the loss of her mother and her participation in pageants, she highlighted the need to leverage challenges into opportunities and to maintain a positive perspective. Ultimately, she urged the students to
pursue their purpose and make a meaningful impact in their own unique ways.

Chukwudi’s words were inspiring. She said, “I want to encourage every single one of you here, to remember: you're all different, you're unique, and you have a purpose. And it doesn't matter what anybody has said; you have the chance to say the things that you need to say to yourself, to become who you need to become.”

Her message seamlessly harmonized with MSDA values, as she quoted the Mount’s motto, originally spoken by St. Catherine of Siena: "Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the
world on fire." She clarified her statement by saying, “In other words, be you, but this you is not
perfect right now. Your goal is not to be the perfect you, but to be evolving, to be learning, taking feedback, putting in the work, learning as you go. And as you continuously go on your journey, indeed you will set the world on fire in different ways, whether as being a teacher, or being a banker, or being a pageant queen, or being a community leader. Every path leads to purpose. The question is, are you ready to get on your path of purpose?"

Ms. Chukwudi’s uplifting speech was met with a roar of applause. To conclude the event, students and staff engaged in a thoughtful Q&A session with Ms. Chukwudi, and carried further discussions into their classrooms following the assembly, fostering an ongoing dialogue beyond the event.

This special kickoff serves as a powerful reminder to celebrate and learn from the diverse tapestry of American history. However, the assembly marks just the beginning of the celebration of Black History Month, with daily morning announcement music spotlights, a speaker series, and more to come as part of the month-long commemoration.