Pleasantdale Elementary Ends Black History Month on a High Note

Pleasantdale Elementary ended February and its celebration of Black History Month with a school-wide Peace Assembly and a visit from Lyn Gordon, great-niece of Olympic Track and Field Champion Wilma Rudolph, school officials said.

On Wednesday, Feb 25, Gordon spoke with students and told personal stories of Rudolph, who was the first woman to win three gold medals in the 100 meter, 400 meter and 4x100 meter relay in the 1960 Summer Olympics. Rudolph was also a women’s rights and civil rights activist during the era, according to officials from West Orange Public Schools.

Following her accomplished career in track and field, Rudolph became a coach and teacher, before her death in 1994.

Additionally, Gordon shared personal family photos and humorous stories of President John F. Kennedy and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Pleasantdale’s celebration of Black History month concluded with a peace assembly, featuring the Pleasantdale Student Congress and fifth grade chorus performing songs from the film “Selma”. Readings and PowerPoint presentations honoring the accomplishments of Nobel Peace Prize winners Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malala Yousafzai followed.

(Photos courtesy of West Orange Public Schools)