Weequahic High School - Legend Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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MESSAGE TO 1972 CLASS The senior class of 1972 is very special to me because it is the first graduating class under my administration. You, as seniors, have reached a ve ry important milestone in your lives and now will assume different important roles in society. For sure, many of you will go to college. Some of you will seek other institutions to enhance your educational needs; while still others will go directly to work. No matter what your goal is after high school, the important thing is that you forever strive to deve lop the best in yourselves. M the same time, it is most important that you never ever forget the unwritten re sponsibility you have to the community from which you are coming. You must recognize clearly that your community is the Black Pearl of the City of Newark. By the very nature of our community we should produce more black leaders than any other area in the city; to do less would be a tragic failure on our part. During my short time here I have tried hard to make you realize the great responsibility you have toward yourselves and your community. И is clear to me that the success or failure of this c Шу, for the most part, rests in vour hands. Now with the opportunity for eighteen year olds to vote, you will have more of an immediate opportunity to become an effective, responsible leader of your community and hence of your city, state, and country. To be a good leader you first must maintain pride in yourself and your community. Only if you are pre pared to meet the challenge of tomorrow will you be able to help your community and your fellow man. We are a race of people on the rise, as evidenced by the recent advances we have made. Even within the span of your lifetime we have seen significant changes take place which serve to uplift the life style of our people.

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It is important for you to understand that protest and dissension for their own sake serve no purpose and in the final analysis do not benefit us as a people. Protest and dissent can only benefit us when we employ them as a means to achieve worthwhile goals. Moreover, as I see it, the true path to the fullfillment of our quest for dignity and selfhood is in education. Herein lies the success of any people on the rise. | do not envy you as you move from this level to the next. Experience tells me that you will be even more exposed to a world of many ills; a world of unsolved problems. But remember one important thing and that is that there is no problem that cannot be solved. All that is needed is the will and the resources. With these ingredients any problem can be solved. Is it not true that before the Wright Brothers, the problem of man's flying could not be solved? That before Columbus, the problem of sailing across the ocean could not be solved? That before the Russians, the problem of space travel could not be solved? That before the Americans, the problem of landing a man on the moon could not be solved? Yes, what could not be solved yesterday is being solved today because the will and resources of man with the help of God made it so. And so as you go through your daily lives and as you encounter problems that “cannot be solved remember what I have said in the text of this message to vou. At this time I wish you all the happiness and success you are capable of enjoying for years to come. 1 pray to God that you be given the wisdom, understanding, guidance and strength necessary to do your share in making the world a better place for the many generations that will hopefully follow you. James Barrett, Jr. Principal MR. J BARRETT PRINCIPAL