Richardson speaks during Black History Month Celebration at RCC

Robeson Community College and the RCC Early College celebrated Black History Month today with a special program in the A.D. Lewis Auditorium.

The program included a special guest speaker, Robeson County Assistant District Attorney, Mary Jane Richardson.

“It is important to learn about our history so we don’t repeat it,” said Richardson. “You are here not because of anything that you’ve done, you are here because of what was someone else did before you.”

“My father was the first black judge in North Carolina,” said Richardson. “Because of him, I can now run for judge… if he could do it 43 years ago, I can do it now.”

Richardson told the students of how she came to the realization of what she wanted to do with her life.

“During my high school and college years, I spent my summers at the courthouse. One day in court, an older gentleman’s case was called. It was just a minor ticket violation, nothing serious from my perspective. He approached the bench and the judge began asking him about his ticket. The man was so nervous, he couldn’t talk. He stood there wringing his hat in his hand,” said Richardson.

That’s when Richardson says she noticed a woman approaching him, it was an attorney that she had admired. The attorney spoke to the man and then within a few moments, presented his case to the judge.

“I decided I wanted to do that for someone… plead their case, and that’s the day I decided to become an attorney.”

After Richardson’s speech, students from the RCC Early College took to the stage.

Samirah Love, a student in the early college, presented famous Black Entrepreneur’ contributions through history.

“Your business is black business, it’s everywhere you go,” said Love. “Black business equates to 1.2 trillion in buying power, our dollars and faces matter.”

Love continued by saying, “You are not defined by color or how many A’s or B’s you get, our ancestors fought for our chance. You only fail when you don’t try, so just do it.”

Love was followed by Ky’Aisa Roberts and Jaimya Evans, who performed a duo rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “They won’t go when I go.” They both received a standing ovation and a round of applause.

Students were also treated to a dance performance by Black Fire, and the celebration ended with Christian McArthur reading an excerpt from Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.