Nana Imhotep Gary Byrd moderated the program which consisted of scholars and cultural workers, and Brother James Smalls poured an African libation for Gil Noble.
[Tribute]
Supporters and well-wishers paid tribute to Gil Noble at Brooklyn’s Boys and Girls’ High School recently.
Nana Imhotep Gary Byrd moderated the program which consisted of scholars and cultural workers, and Brother James Smalls poured an African libation for Gil Noble. This program was called “Preserving The Legacy, A Noble Cause.”
Scholar Dr. James Turner reminded the audience of Mr. Noble’s superior collection of tapes on Minister Malcolm X for African-American history month. He said “Like It Is” was a “Black cultural expression.” He added: “Gil produced these shows by himself. And Gil’s show should be a model for future journalists.”
Miss Ollie McClean, proprietor of Sankofa Academy, an Africentric private school, had her students present powerful recitations at the event. To the applause of the audience, the children recited the names of all of the countries on the African continent.
Introduced as a “warrior,” Dr. Brenda Greene of Medgar Evers College presented a “letter to Mr. Noble” for her offering. “The last time Gil and I talked it was about education,” she recalled. “He spoke at a Black Writer’s Conference. The title of that conference was ‘Literature as Access,’ the 7th writer’s conference on the campus. Many other speakers such as Dr. Leonard Jeffries praised Mr. Noble.”
Lisa Noble, Gil Noble’s daughter, acknowledged the struggle to keep “Like It Is” in the same format. She said, “I want to thank Gary Byrd,” Ms. Noble said. “He should have taken over for my father, but the powers that be rejected our proposal. My father does own, and has copyrighted all of his archives. He has passed his archives down to his family, and we want to preserve it in a digital format. We shall create a free learning center, and this was my father’s wish.”
Ms. Noble’s presentation closed with a promise: “I feel your love, and I am determined to carry on my father’s legacy.”
The tribute was held on June 3, 2012.
“Speaking Truth To Empower.”
