Of Colors Black History Event

It was an artists’ night. It was an honorees’ night. It was a night for everyone. The Of Colors A Creative Collaboration, co-founded in 2011 by Tracy Todd Hunter and Courtney Pure, blasted out a jubilant annual celebration showcasing gorgeous Black art from the Long Island Black Artist Association as well as spirited song and dance attracting about 100 attendees at #Patchogue’s Artspace. The singer Pedro, who performed with @officialbizmarkie in the past, raised the event’s electric vibration by kicking off the evening. “This song is about happiness,” he said, before singing a couple of sets then leaving to perform at The Cuban Restaurant, his gig Friday and Saturday nights. Singers Tony Pruden and Julius Nelson from #Bellport and Gordon Heights respectively as well as producer and manager Michael Wilson from #Selden with singer Tasha Staton and D.J. Wade John from Bellport came early to set up, then rocked it during the evening. Kelly J. Powell (@skellybean1966) recited her poetry. There were proud parents and relatives in the audience like Lucille Storey, who lives in the #Artspace building and whose daughter Antoinette Souffrant was being honored. Another daughter, Marchandt Pinkney is an artist. Among the honorees, Sherika Adams, Associate Director – Morrison Mentors Inc. started out with the Boys & Girls Club of the Bellport Area. Antoinette Souffrant was a Patchogue-Medford student and went on to become a psychotherapist, locals Lori Devlin and Michael White were honored as well as James Whitten of #LongIslandBlackArtists and Denyzio Laboy, an actor, law enforcement advisor/advisor, music producer. Laboy gave a shout out to Hunter; they grew up together and he heralded Hunter’s path. “He dared to be himself and it gave me a lot of inspiration,” Laboy said. “I was headed in the wrong direction but became a police officer and now I’m a Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security.” This was the first year Of Colors received a grant from the Huntington Arts Council, Hunter announced, so Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Eastville Community Historical Society Dr. Georgette Grier Key, who holds many other positions and is a board member of the Brookhaven NAACP, as well as County Executive Steve Bellone were lauded for their diversity work as Martin Luther King honorees. “Georgette is an activist 360 days a year. I don’t have that kind of stamina anymore,” Hunter said to laughter. “She was even in the city yesterday.” Grier-Key presented a program the evening before at Museum of Natural History to young people, pointing out that the stars guided slaves who escaped from the South to safe states in the North. “This fight I’ve had to take on, it’s from the strength of shoulders I stand on,” she said. Hunter pointed out Bellone’s dedication to choosing qualified diverse staffers: among the roster, a Black police commissioner, Black sheriff, Black medical examiner and Black health director. Bellone, who is term listed in his last year as county executive, pointed out that Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott who was present, came on board with the county a couple of weeks before Covid restrictions hit. “For me it’s strange getting an award from an arts organization. I can’t play anything and I can’t paint,” said Bellone humorously. “My dad played piano. So I’m trying to teach my kids to make a contribution. And I tried to make sure every person in Suffolk County belongs and has the same opportunities.” Officials came in droves. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine declared “(Brookhaven Town) did a full proclamation for our county executive,” he said, acknowledging his service to Suffolk County. We’re naming February 18 Steve Bellone Day,” he said. “I never dreamed I’d be writing a proclamation for the county executive,” said Legis. Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), who’s been in office a year. “Thank you for stopping the divide in Suffolk County. It’s also due to the effort of Tracy and (Patchogue Mayor) Paul (Pontieri).” Pontieri threw the compliment back to Hunter. Photo 5: Of Colors co-founder Tracy Todd Hunter presented another spirited event Saturday night at Artspace. In the photo: (Left to right) Tracy Todd Hunter, Legis. Dominick Thorne, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine, Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri, and Dr. Georgette Grier-Key. ADV/Leuzzi