Sakima McClinton grew up in Poughkeepsie and became the first Black woman from New York to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
She’s the chairperson of the City of Poughkeepsie’s Democratic Committee – the first Black person to serve in the role.
But, she told students and families inside Poughkeepsie Middle School’s gymnasium Thursday evening, becoming the “first” to do something is not as important as “what we do after we become the first. … Did you make it easier for someone else?”
McClinton, a former Poughkeepsie City School District Board of Education President, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and a former member of the city’s Common Council, among other accomplishments, was one of two guest speakers at Community Schools’ third annual Black History Month and the African Diaspora.
“I challenge each of you: Study the history, but also write your own,” McClinton said. “We are not simply beneficiaries of history, we are contributors to it.“Being the first is only the beginning,” she said, “not the ending.”
The Black History Month celebration featured a broad array of student talent, performances and community contributions, in addition to a thunderous performance from the Monroe University marching band. After McClinton, Dr. Ismail Rashid, a Vassar College professor who holds his doctorate in African History, provided comments and perspective.
“This country is as free today, and as advanced as it is today, because of many of the contributions of Black people, some of which up to today are not being acknowledged and recognized,” Rashid said. “Every time Black people win in this country, everybody wins.”
Board of Education Trustee and City Chamberlain Jamar Cummings and Poughkeepsie Middle School Assistant Principal and Climate and Culture Danielle Green served as emcees, walking the roughly 200 in attendance from the presentation of colors by the high school’s AFJROTC to begin the entertainment, through to the finale, a brief fashion show of African head wraps created by the high school’s Culture Shock club.
In-between, acts included:

• Poetry, drumming and dance by Poughkeepsie students in the VAST Program at Vassar College, including a performance highlighting the accomplishments of Jane Bolin, the Poughkeepsie native who became the country’s first Black female judge, among a long list of accomplishments.
• Vocal performances from middle school student duos Lara Topaloglu and Tyriq Inge, and Heaven Murphy and J’Anna Campbell.
• A strings performance of “This Little Light of Mine,” by the combined Smith and Truth elementary orchestra.
• A routine by the high school cheerleading team.

Before entering the gymnasium, attendees also walked through a “wax museum,” in which several Krieger second grade and middle school students dressed as famous figures in history, such as Michelle Obama, Jesse Jackson and Michael Jordan, and read off their accomplishments when prompted.
The Monroe marching band, which was among one of the last acts, electrified the audience first with a lengthy percussion-only performance, before the entire band joined for several boisterous numbers.
After the show, everyone was able to sample authentic and diverse foods supplied by several area eateries – Anna Et Perre, Mama La’s Food for the Soul, Akbar’s Takeout, Sylvia’s Jamaican Restaurant, Mo Flames Soul Food and Geneva’s Blues House – as well as several members of the staff and families from around the district. Throughout, Community Schools and Ampact staff kept the event running smoothly.
Toward the end of his speech, Rashid emphasized the importance of education when it comes to chasing goals and accomplishments in life. He offered a challenge to the students and young residents in the audience:
“Your life is going to be important. Your life is going to touch other lives in ways that you will never know,” he said. “You don’t have to be anyone else. You just have to be the best possible version of yourself you can be.”