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Coral Shores Sophomore Dixon Hosts Successful Black History Luncheon

TAVERNIER, Fla. – Less than a month ago one inspired sophomore at Coral Shores enlightened her peers by hosting a Black History luncheon for all the high school history students.

Monica Dixon, wanted Black History to come alive for her peers so they would “…see that there is more to black history than Martin Luther King Jr’s work,” she said. As a project for Leadership Class, Dixon organized a luncheon February 22 with Guest Speaker Sunny Booker and an ethnic lunch sponsored by First State Bank.

Booker is the Safe School Coordinator for Monroe County Schools and Chief Administrator for Monroe Youth Challenge Program (MYCP). She also happens to be born of an African American father and white mother. Her personal story brought to life recent struggles blacks face in America. “She spoke about her life growing up in Detroit, Michigan and the issues she faced being white and black, the struggle of being accepted, and how she was supposed to act,” said Dixon. Booker expressed to the students what she realized made her different – it was not being black and white, “it was my own power as an individual,” she told the students. As her presentation continued Booker shared when she was infant the police came to her parent’s house and took her Mother away because they alleged her parent’s interracial marriage was illegal. The police took her mother in for questioning and handed Booker over to the neighbors. Although no charges were pressed, Booker stated how scared her mother was for her. “Students tend to think the civil rights movement was a long time ago. By sharing my story I hoped to help them understand that powerful lessons can be learned from recent black history in the United States. It is my hope, that every student, regardless of race, heritage or gender, will realize that their individual actions are powerful and they can Be the Change,” said Booker.

After Booker’s presentation, Dixon invited the students to the cafeteria for a home-cooked traditional meal in celebration of black history including barbecue chicken, pork, meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, green beans, sweet potatoes, corn bread, sweet potato pie, and jelly cake. The luncheon was sponsored by First State Bank and prepared by First State employees Theresa Forant and Patti Marshall.

The leadership class Dixon’s project was for is sponsored by MYCP and is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information about the leadership class, Challenge Day, Next Step, or any other MYCP sponsored program call MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter at (305) 852-1664 or go to www.keysschools.org.