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Mayor of Hollywood joins advisory council, students for Black History Month program
Summary
The mayor of Hollywood joined the African American Advisory Council and students from Mary Bethune Elementary for a Black History Month observance that included reflections on civic representation and a dramatic recitation identifying as Harriet Tubman.
The mayor of Hollywood joined members of the African American Advisory Council, students from Mary Bethune Elementary and community presenters at a city program honoring Black History Month. The mayor described the event as a long-standing local tradition and said the city is proud to continue it.
The program mixed civic remarks, personal testimony and scripted readings. A local speaker, who identified themself as 'Harriet Tubman' for a first-person recitation, described enslaved life and an escape by following the North Star: 'I traveled by night following the North Star in the sky, walked through dark woods, crossed cold rivers, and hid from danger.' The recitation continued that the narrator returned repeatedly to guide others to safety, saying, 'Some people call me Moses because I led so many slave people to freedom. I never lost 1 single passenger.' Those lines were delivered by program participants as part of the ceremony.
A commissioner at the event said that when voters approved districting in 2000, neighborhoods gained representation and that change 'gave me a chance to be voted in as the first black commissioner.' The commissioner’s statement linked the structural change of districting with expanded local representation but was presented as that speaker’s account of events during remarks at the program.
Other presenters offered scriptural reflections on community and the nature of 'ekklesia,' describing the church as "the people inside the building" rather than the structure itself. One speaker framed the celebration by urging fair treatment for all and asking that staff and officials hold to that standard.
The program closed with brief blessings and exhortations to 'obey and trust,' and no formal actions, votes or policy decisions were recorded during the ceremony. The event combined civic recognition, historical performance and community reflection; attendees included local students and advisory council members.
