John Harmon Sr., president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, was speaker for the opening day celebration.
For John Harmon Sr., president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, the history of African Americans in the United States is the history of America itself.
Although Harmon served as the opening day speaker this week for Rowan College at Burlington County’s celebration of Black History Month, Harmon entitled his presentation simply “American History.”
Harmon touched on topics such as the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade in the 15th century, Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, the activism of figures such as Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass, as well as Carter G. Woodson’s launch of “Negro History Week” in 1926 as the precursor of Black History Month.
“Some people embrace their history while others seek to forget it, and I believe this is something that we should never forget,” Harmon said.
Yet with that history, Harmon chose to emphasize the need for all colors, races and genders to come together against the adversity they face to create positive change for the country.
Harmon highlighted those who operated safe houses for the Underground Railroad, President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Procter & Gamble founder James Gamble investing in what would become Mary McLeod Bethune’s Bethune-Cookman University and even President Ford for officially recognizing Black History Month in 1976.
“I chose the title ‘America’s History’ because when we talk about black history, sometimes it can make folks uncomfortable,” Harmon said. “What I tend to do when I have this platform is talk about diversity and how different groups came together in these challenging times to help each other.”
Harmon also shared with RCBC students his own story of transforming from a young man who failed ninth-grade English, to eventually graduating high school, attending Mercer County Community College and Fairleigh Dickinson University and eventually entering the banking industry.
“There’s pressure, and then there’s pressure we create for ourselves,” Harmon said. “There’s nothing new under the sun. If someone has done it, whatever you’re looking to do you can do it as well. The key is getting a plan and laying out where you want to go.”
In addition to Harmon’s opening-day presentation, RCBC will be hosting the following free events to celebrate Black History Month throughout February:
• A screening of the film “Fences” will take place in the Votta Hall Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 11:30 a.m. The film depicts a working-class African-American father as he attempts to raise his family in the 1950s, while also dealing with the dramatic events of his life.
• Dr. Monique Gary will speak on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Votta Hall Auditorium. Gary is a fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist at Grand View Health in Pennsylvania specializing in minimally invasive breast surgery. Gary seeks to address health-care inequality for minority groups.
• Philadelphia’s University of the Arts Student Funk Ensemble will perform on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Votta Hall Auditorium.
• A screening of the film “Hidden Figures” will take place in the Votta Hall Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 11:30 a.m. The film focuses on black women who excelled in the fields of mathematics and science at NASA in the 1960s.
• Sam Thevanayagam, president and CEO of Parts Life, Inc., will speak on Thursday, Feb. 22, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Votta Hall Auditorium. Thevanayagam will speak achieving one’s goals against adversity.
• Operatic Baritone Thomas Beard will present a concert entitled “The Evolution of Negro Spirituals” on Wednesday, Feb. 28, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Votta Hall Auditorium.
• American fashion model Pat Cleveland and 6ABC’s Rick Williams will speak on Wednesday, Feb. 28, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Votta Hall Auditorium.
In addition to the events at the college’s Mt. Laurel Campus, the school will also host its “Soulful Lunch” on Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Culinary Arts Center at the college’s Mt. Holly Campus. Guest Chef Vincent Rochester of Rochester’s BBQ & Grill in Lawnside will provide a cooking demonstration. RCBC culinary students will serve a soulful meal. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at rcbc.edu/aacc.
For more information about these events, call the college’s African American Cultural Committee at (856) 222–9311, ext. 1338 or visit rcbc.edu/aacc.
