Mena
Black History Month
3/2/2008
Contrary to common belief, judges do not just sentence criminals to imprisonment; one judge has come to inspire students and remind them about a great man in history.
On Feb.26, the Superior Court Judge Patricia J. Titus was guest speaker at the Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute held in the Recital Hall.
“The event is an annual commemoration of Dr. King’s life to help keep his legacy alive,” Leo Middleton, director of staff and student diversity, said.
The month of February is Black History Month. The month long celebration expanded from Negro History Week in 1976 by African Americans for the Study of Afro-American Life and History.
“Black History Month has evolved tremendously since its establishment in 1976 because we have so many young individuals that are coming up today who don’t necessarily know the leaders of the past,” Middleton said.
In addition to having a guest speaker, the event put together by Middleton, hosted the El Camino College Chorale under the direction of Dr. Joanna Naches.
“This year’s event was very inspirational. The singing performance by the chorale was very touching and I appreciate their performance,” Roosevelt Lucas, 23, Sociology, said.
Judge Titus is serving her second 6-year term. She is assigned to the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice System and Los Angeles. She presides over adult felony jury trials, felony sentencing hearings, felony probation violation hearings and felony progress reports.
“I was inspired to see an elected official of her status be from a minority background,” Whitney Kennedy, 21, Business Marketing, said. “I want to be able to give back to the community just as she has.”
Besides enforcing justice in the system, Judge Titus is a frequent participant in career days held at local public and private schools.
“I love having opportunities to be out in the community,” Titus said. “It is an opportunity to show people that people in the criminal justice system care about the community and students.”