Calendars and television public service announcements continue to remind us that February is Black History Month. But if the theme is to have any true significance, it must be felt by Americans of all races and creeds, because black history represents a core thread of our nation's heritage and future. Our local communities, which, no doubt, encompass a diverse racial and cultural mix, are where it should start.

An upcoming program at SUNY Farmingdale, in which the Rev. Alfonso Wyatt will speak on the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is one way that residents can be a part of Black History Month in a meaningful way. Through it, they will help keep alive the legacy of the man who authored such simple, yet timeless statements as, "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools (Speech at St. Louis, 22 March 1964, in St. Louis Post Dispatch, March 23, 1964)," and "If we assume that mankind has a right to survive, then we must find an alternative to war and destruction. In our day of space vehicles and guided ballistic missiles, the choice is either nonviolence or nonexistence (Strength to Love, 1963, Chapter 17)." The program, originally scheduled for Feb. 29, will be held on March 2 at 11 a.m.

Community members are encouraged to take part in this and the many other events taking place at SUNY Farmingdale, which highlight the people who have contributed to black culture. For example, an art exhibit entitled,"A Portrait of Great African Kings and Queens" is being shown in the Greenley Hall Library Lobby. The exhibit, which was originally scheduled to run until Feb. 29, has been extended through March 2. For more information on how to participate, one may call the SUNY Farmingdale Office of Communication at 632-420-2400.

A.M.