More than 100 people turned out for Langhorne Borough African American Historical Day, an outdoor gathering featuring speakers, a demonstration march, art sales, information stands, and food trucks at Mayor’s Playground on Saturday.
The inaugural multi-cultural event – initially planned in May but delayed as a result of the coronavirus – sought to highlight local African American history as well as work towards community togetherness. It was hosted by No More Pain Inc, Lace’d Unisex Hair Salon, and PAAC (Perseverance Against All Circumstances).
“Today, we look forward to a better tomorrow,” said Morris Derry, co-organizer of the event and founder of No More Pain, a nonprofit that works in the area. “We are a community. It’s not just for one race; it’s for all of us.”
Derry’s family has lived in Langhorne since the 1700s.
“The reason we had the event is because [of what] we see around the country,” he said. “This is meant to be about American history in Langhorne and as a whole, so tomorrow never looks like today dealing with racism and hate.”
Both attendees as well as organizers of the gathering consistently stressed racial harmony.
“I think that unity is something very improper to this community. Sometimes it’s hard to see it, being a minority and going through certain things. But events like this show the true colours of a community. In this climate it’s the perfect time. A door opened,” said Brianna Herder, a 19-year-old Langhorne resident ahead of a speech to the crowd. “Inviting everyone of all races, that’s what it’s about really.”
In her speech, Herder touched on how she was often was subject to racist abuse as one of the few black students in her school. She said the solidarity exhibited by people of all races at the event showed she was wrong to assume the worst of the community, however.
“Seeing how many people were backing things they may never live to see and people they may never march for is uplifting,” she said.
About 45 people participated in a protest march which lapped the park twice, ending with an 8-minute-and-46-second kneel to mark the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in May, which led to a worldwide social justice surge and spurred forward the Black Lives Matter movement.
Some in attendance – some holding signs – chanted “George Floyd,” “Breonna Taylor,” “No Racist Police,” “Black Lives Matter!” and “No Justice, No Peace!”
Although many event speakers addressed the shooting of unarmed Black Americans and police brutality, all of them stressed that they were “not against the police department – we are against racist police officers.”
Attendees clapped for Langhorne Borough officers policing the event, whom Derry invited to join in the kneel and thanked them for participating.
“It’s important we show up and support any event in the borough,” said John Godzieba, the borough’s chief of police.
Asked if he saw the unity claimed by event speakers on a local or a national level, Godzieba replied that “in a smaller community, we have more people who are closer to each other and know each other.”
“You don’t have the same strife towards other people you have in an urban environment. We walk around, we drive around, and we are integrated into the community.”
Attendees appeared to agree.
“It’s a nice family event to get out and spread happiness and positivity,” said Maria Morrison, a Bensalem resident attending with her children.
“I enjoy that there’s a lot of colors and walks of life around here, said Omar Khan, a 25-year-old Yardley resident purchasing from one of the many food trucks at the event. “It’s not just African Americans, it’s people interested in African American culture.”
Langhorne Borough has a long history of being welcoming to black Americans, even at times where there was much opposition in other parts of the country. The borough stood as an important stop of the Underground Railroad in the 1800s.
Among the 15 or so displays at the event were organizations as varied as the Langhorne Council for the Arts, 500 Women Scientists Philly Pod, Morrisville Against Hate, Bucks County Socialists, as well as local artists Gabby Farrell, Arianna Keith, and Brianna Farrell, who were painting and selling images of African American sports stars as well as historical icons such as Martin Luther King, Jr under their business Just Erie.
Other speakers included John Jordan, director of community relations for Pennsylvania’s NAACP, Siah Stevens, who came to the United States from Liberia at age 15 and spoke of the need to “address the social distance between Africans and African Americans,” and Linda Sally, president of the African-American Museum of Bucks County, who addressed the “two COVIDs- COVID-19 and COVID-1619.”
Danny Thomas, executive director of The Peace Center, said the recent national dialogue on race has given the country a chance to critically analyze America’s history of racism.
“That vision of the founders is white and that’s the reality … We are given the opportunity now to change the entire narrative,” Thomas added.
Credit: Hal Conte/LevittownNow.com
Wrapping up the event, Louise Davis, a third cousin to Harriet Tubman, read aloud Robert Hayden’s poem, “Rungate, Rungate.” Davis said that the event was a sign that “history continues.”
Derry said that he intends to make the Historical Day annual and grow the turnout. This year, the event had limited turnout to comply with COVID-19 mitigation measures.
“We wish we had more people come out, but they were diverse people, and that’s what matters,” he concluded.
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