By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
NORTH BRUNSWICK — The most popular questions posed to Dr. Roy T. Wilson were about his age, his birthday and his favorite sports team.
The principal of Linwood Middle School subjected himself to an interview by students at Lightbridge Academy on Feb. 25 as part of teacher Elena Pacheco’s Black History Month celebration with her 32 students.
“The struggles of African-American people are real struggles for all people,” Pacheco said. “Without learning about African-American history … we would not be together.”
The students sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” “This Little Light of Mine” and “Smiles for Life,” telling Wilson, Pacheco and other parents in attendance about the anthems that represent the struggle of black people during slavery.
Sharing handshakes with the 5- to 10-year-olds in the class, Wilson then answered questions about his personal life and professional career.
He has been at Linwood since July, supervising 1,400 students. He began his career as a counselor, school teacher and vice principal before becoming a principal in Newark 12 years ago. He graduated from Franklin High School and then Grambling State University in Louisiana.
“I enjoyed reading about the diversity of Linwood and North Brunswick and it’s something I really wanted to be a part of,” Wilson said. “We have a great staff, great teachers and a lot of good, good kids at Linwood. I’m looking forward to you coming in a couple of years.”
He would not, however, share his actual age, at the urging of the entire room.
“I will be 57, but not today,” Wilson laughed. “I am old enough to serve as the principal of Linwood.”
He told the class at their beckoning that his birthday is in May, he has two daughters, his favorite sport is football and his favorite team is the Carolina Panthers.
He told them reluctantly, but good-naturedly, that he wasn’t the president, and that he isn’t a billionaire.
To bring the conversation back to Black History Month, Gaurav, a first grader, stood in front of the room to share his interpretation of “My Uncle Martin’s Words for America,” written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece Angela Farris Watkins.
“He worked to make this country a better place. … That’s why he wanted to change America. … The speech was about that we should not have slavery in this country. … He tried to change segregation and the laws,” the first grader said proudly.
Wilson replied, “Young people, you are very smart. You are very intelligent. You always have to believe that.”
Wilson then asked the students what Black History Month means to them. They shouted out, it is to respect black people, to respect different colors and to remember slavery.
“A lot of people made a lot of sacrifices for you to come to school together,” Wilson told the mixed group of whites, blacks, Asians and Indians. “Make sure you respect history, study hard, respect each other and respect differences because it makes you unique.”
Pacheco was inspired to organize the celebration because her own children are of mixed backgrounds and because Wilson is her son’s principal.
“It’s really important to teach them about culture. Black History Month can’t be ignored. They can relate and learn about their own culture as well,” she said. “It’s hard for kids to relate. Without Black History Month, we wouldn’t have diversity in our school.”
Pacheco said that people should be identified as “human” and not by the color of the skin — which, she taught the children, is all a shade of tan or brown based on the amount of melanin in the skin.
She also taught them the importance of literacy. A self-proclaimed hater of reading when she was younger, Pacheco said she now borrows books constantly from the North Brunswick Library to share with her class.
“A lot of kids miss the opportunity to read,” she said, noting the societal focus on playing with technology. “It was a challenge to create a group that allows them to have conversations.”
Since Pacheco is new to the school, she said she plans to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month next year as well as July 4 during the summer program.
“This is the foundation. This is where it starts the love of learning,” she said
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].