St. Barnabas High School Choir Performing at Cargenie Hall, Sunday, Feb. 19, at 7.30 p.m.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

It all started last summer when student, Gabrielle Cruz, a member of the St. Barnabas High School (SBHS) choir who also plays the piano, spotted a brochure about a program called “Voices in the Hall” on the desk of SBHS teacher and co-choir director, Sharon Traditi. “We should do this!” Gabrielle excitedly said. “What an experience to perform at Carnegie Hall!” And so, the idea began taking shape with more students in September getting excited about the possibility of taking to the stage of Manhattan’s iconic performance venue. A phone call to executive director, Steve Petrunak, of the “Voices

By JIM FAIRBANKS

Glaude’s title of “Begin Again” [Crown Publishing, 2020] calls us to renewed action for racial justice. He gives hopeful examples of past Black rights gained, such as the civil rights laws during Reconstruction after the Civil War, and during the Black Power movement of the 1960s. Yet, he writes that each effort was followed by White backlash Baldwin calls the “After Times.” We are again living in the “After Times” now! This book is not a hopeful story of change; this is a sobering book. Glaude Jr. quotes American sociologist, socialist, historian, and Pan-African civil rights activist, W.E.B.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Zeta South Bronx Elementary School K-2nd grade students and staff are in for a treat on Monday, Feb. 13, when the South Bronx school will host a special musical performance by Liang Wang, principal oboist for the New York Philharmonic, and Junko Ichikawa, an award-winning pianist. According to representatives of Zeta South Bronx Elementary School, located at 425 Westchester Avenue, part of the charter school’s whole-child education approach and its commitment to reversing the quality gap, includes providing students with a robust specialty curriculum and programming through which students can explore and discover their own unique interests and passions.

By DAVID GREENE

This week, in recognition of Black History Month, we asked readers their thoughts on the proposed bipartisan African American History Act bill, introduced to Congress once again by Democratic co-sponsors, U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) and U.S. Sen. Corey Booker (NJ) as reported, and which, if passed, would invest $10 million over the next 5 years to promote and support education programs dedicated to African American history. “I think they should sign this legislation with the hope that all Black and brown communities will also have their stories told. Truth be told, as a Puerto Rican-American, our story has

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES & SÍLE MOLONEY

The envisioning process to decide on the future use of the Kingsbridge Armory, located at Jerome Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, is continuing, and follows previous updates on the project. Envisioning workshops took place on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, and again on Saturday, Jan. 21, but those involved with the “Together for Kingsbridge” working group as still anxious to hear from more community members about their ideas. District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez gave an overview of the project during Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7)’s general board meeting on Jan. 24, adding that at the Jan. 21 workshop, several

By DAVID GREENE

Bronxite and alum of both Fordham High School of the Arts and SUNY’s Purchase College, Samara Joy [McLendon], was a relatively unknown jazz singer before she was awarded a Grammy for Best New Artist at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Monday, Feb. 5. Joy beat out a field of newcomers including Anitta, Omar Apolo, JD Beck, Molly Turtle, and Tobe to capture the coveted prize. During her acceptance speech, the 23-year-old Castle Hill native appeared flabbergasted, telling the recording world’s A-list stars, “I am so… Oh my gosh! I can’t

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts will present the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, performing classic compositions of Brahms and Sibelius on Feb. 19, led by principal conductor, Theodore Kuchar, and featuring violin soloist, Vladyslava Luchenko. The special program will include Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81, Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77, and Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43. The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, based in the medieval city of Lviv, was officially established on Sept. 27, 1902. On this day, the first concert of the newly formed orchestra took

By SÍLE MOLONEY

As February marks Black History Month, Democrats, Rep. Jamaal Bowman Ed.D (NY-16) and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker reintroduced The African American History Act in both the House and the Senate and are urging leaders across the nation to tell the truth about the United States’ history of racism and white supremacy. The bill was reintroduced on Feb. 2 with over 100 original co-sponsors in the House, representatives for Bowman and Booker said. “It is our moral imperative to tell the truth about our past to finally reconcile with this nation’s history of racism and white nationalism, and our

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx Borough Hall was lit in yellow in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance on Friday, Jan. 27, along with all municipal buildings across the the City. Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the City commemorated the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, adding, “We remember and honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the many others that were murdered.” Gibson continued, “Today, seven people were killed in a terror attack inside a synagogue in Jerusalem. We will not tolerate these horrendous acts of

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Culture

St. Barnabas High School Choir Performing at Cargenie Hall, Sunday, Feb. 19, at 7.30 p.m.

Book Review: “Begin Again, James Baldwin’s America and its Urgent Lessons for Our Own,” by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

World-Renowned, Award-Winning Musicians to Perform for South Bronx Elementary Students

Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on Proposed Bipartisan African American History Act

Envisioning Process for Kingsbridge Armory Continues

Bronxite and Former Fordham H.S. Student Samara Joy Wins Two Grammy Awards

Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine to Perform at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts

Bowman, Booker Reintroduce African American History Act, Urge Nation to Tell the Truth About its Past

Bronx Borough Hall Lit Yellow for International Holocaust Remembrance Day