Music, unity and togetherness were brought to more than 200 people at Solidarity Jazz and R&B concert on Feb. 26 at the University of Maine’s Hauck Auditorium. These people, by their presence, made a strong statement for diversity, togetherness, and acceptance of others regardless of race, color, religion, creed, income or lifestyle.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson was the father of Black History Month and the national theme this year was celebrating 50 years of Brown vs. the Board of Education 1954 decision in which the Supreme Court determined that separate and equal education was unconstitutional and schools in America began the process of integration. Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court justice and former NAACP civil rights attorney represented Brown and won the case.

This decision was met with much resistance and violence and had to be enforced with armed federal troops in several areas of this country. There are still some whites today who are trying to get around sending their children to integrated schools while, for the most part, their children could care less.

As president of the Greater Bangor NAACP, I had promised to share something special God had given me at the Solidarity Concert which would bond blacks and whites together in love and understanding ways and put us on a path hand in hand, working for a common goal of togetherness – eliminating racism and discrimination in our daily lives.

I think what I am about to share with you would be embraced by Woodson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

King was a man who had a dream of an American without senseless hatred. He dreamed of an America where people would not be judged by the color of their skin.

Please join with me, share with others, and let’s care together:

I care about why we need black history month in America today.

I care about doing positive things to promote understanding between all peoples who make up our great country and consider themselves American.

I care about the need to respect the rights of all human beings regardless of their race, color, religion, income, gender, or lifestyle.

I care about treating all human beings the way I want to be treated and the way I want my loved ones and friends to be treated.

I care about being an advocate for human beings who are being discriminated against.

I care about being a part of efforts to remove the clause from the U.S. Constitution which says black people are three-fifths of a man.

I care about breaking the cycle of raising racist children, an I will raise my children to love and respect all human beings.

I care about doing away with white privilege in our daily lives.

I care about earning the right and privilege to be called a human being by exercising my responsibility as a human being which means I must love and treat any and all human beings the way I want to be treated at all times.

James Varner is a resident of Old Town and president of the Greater Bangor NAACP.