"Lift Every Voice and Sing" Lift every voice and sing Till earth and heaven ring Ring with the harmonies of liberty Let our rejoicing rise High as the listening skies Let resound Loud faith that the MALC X SHABAZZ H C OOL 80 JOH 50'1 AVEN JE, NEWARK, EW JE-RSEY 07108 1991 OPTIMIST VOLUME 77 1 MALCOLM X SHABAZZ El HAJJ MALIK Al-SHABAZZ 1925- 1965 Malcolm X Shabazz was a man of purpose, a man who wasn't afraid to use power in the struggle of freeing and educating his people. He was one of the last hopes of true equality. Through his knowledge and wisdom, we are inspired to pick up where he was so cruelly cut off, to finish the fight and finally get our people out of every form of slavery that oppresses us. We are the few who are lucky enough to walk down the corridors of a school that honors one of the greatest warriors of civil rights, and we owe it to Malcolm to do our best at what we can. We owe it to him to learn about him. We must read his speeches, read his articles, read his Interviews. Read about his life, get an understanding of what he stood for, so that we will know what to stand for. So many misunderstood him, and it's up to us to properly teach them about him. We are the children of brother Malcolm's generation and we must continue the strugle "By any means necessary." 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Malcolm X Shabazz ................................................. 2 Faculty and Staff ..................................................... 4 In Memoriam ....................................................... 24 Board of Education ................................................. 26 Executive Superintendent ......................................... 27 Seniors ............................................................... 30 Class of 1991 ........................................................ 56 Dedication ........................................................... 60 Senior class officers ................................................ 61 Optimist Staff ....................................................... 64 Activities ............................................................. 66 Academics ........................................................... 78 Sports ................................................................ 92 Underclassmen .................................................... 114 What If? ........................................................... 140 Can You Imagine? ................................................ 141 Last Will and Testament ......................................... 142 Prom Memories .................................................. 146 Graduation Memories • . • • . • • . • . . • • .. • .. • • • • • .. .. . • • • • • • . • .. . • .. • 147 Senior Directory .................................................. 148 3 4 5 PRINCIPAL Mary G. Bennett To the Class of 1991 My message to you is inspired by two great Black Americans who believed in the value of education - Mary Mcleod Bethune and W.E.B. DuBois. As you enter the next phase of your lives, I challenge you to develop your sense of worth as human beings and as valuable members of this society. I challenge you to contribute meaningfully to make this world a better place for all people. Last, I chal lenge you to go forward with faith in yourselves, belief in your abilities and commitment to accomplishing great things in the years to come. My generation and generations of the past are depending on you to build on what we have attempted to do and go forward to achieve more, do more and inspire more young people. We urge you to make the beliefs and dreams of Malcolm X Shabazz, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela realities for your generation and future generations. I wish each of you good health, determination and success in all that you do. Mary G. Bennett Principal 6