In February, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Commissioner Patricia L. Gatling co-hosted a Black History Month reception. The Gracie Mansion event honored six City employees for outstanding public service, including CCHR’s Isaac Parsee (see p. 4).

Commissioner Gatling spoke of the history and importance of the event, highlighting its founder Dr. Carter G. Woodson. The week-long celebration founded in 1926 was expanded to a month in 1976.

Dr. Woodson began school at the age of 20, completed high school by age 22 and received his Ph.D. from Harvard, becoming the second African-American to do so. He coined the often quoted phrase "It's never too late to learn" and also stated on many occasions that "knowledge was the key to success."

Commissioner Gatling likened Dr. Woodson’s strong views on education to those of Mayor Bloomberg’s who also believes that knowledge is the key to success. She pointed out that early in his administration, Mayor Bloomberg became the City’s strongest advocate for quality public education. The Mayor has repeatedly stated that fair and equal quality education is a civil right and that a superior education will produce tomorrow’s great achievers.

Commissioner Gatling with Mayor Bloomberg.