Judge Crecca Coordinates Monthlong Black History Events Across Suffolk County Courts

Suffolk County’s court system organized a monthlong slate of Black History Month programming for February coordinated by District Administrative Judge Andrew A. Crecca with partners that include the AMISTAD Long Island Black Bar Association and the Suffolk County Bar Association. The effort used the Central Jury Room at the Suffolk County Courts as a civic venue for art and community programming, spotlighting local artists and historical materials for public viewing.

At the center of the courts’ February offerings was the Islip Arts Council–curated exhibition titled “In Living Color,” on display Feb. 1–28, 2024 in the Central Jury Room at 400 Carleton Avenue, Central Islip. The exhibition opened with a reception on Feb. 1 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., where many local artists spoke about their work. The Islip Arts Council described the unveiling this way: “To say that the unveiling of the art show was powerful is just one word to describe the event. There was a huge shift in the room when each of the artists spoke about their life, their art, and how they ended up where they are today. Words were spoken from the heart about what it means to be an artist, with each speech adding to the collective thread, weaving an unbreakable tapestry right before our eyes. It was notably crucial for artists and nonartists to get a glimpse of, relate to, and truly understand why we need art in our lives and all around us.”

The exhibition included selected pieces by local artists and prints of works by William H. (William Henry) Johnson; the Islip Arts Council notes those prints were first installed at Touro Law Center in 2018 and were “featured in the Smithsonian Archives.” The Islip Arts Council organized the show in partnership with AMISTAD, and Waldo Cabrera, president of the Islip Arts Council Board of Directors, said, “It is a great honor for us to curate an art exhibition for the Suffolk County Courts. As much as we enjoy celebrating our artists, we look forward to any chance we get to educate and inspire the next generation of great artists.” The display was open to the public throughout February. For further information about a piece of art, contact the Islip Arts Council at (631) 888-3525.

The courts’ February programming as announced tied judicial leadership to cultural outreach; AMISTAD’s newsletter also shows that the organization has continued to program at the Central Jury Room in later years. AMISTAD’s calendar for 2025 listed events including a Feb. 6, 2025 movie screening of “Pullman and the Railroad Rebellion,” a Feb. 13, 2025 lecture “The Saga of Curt Flood,” and a Feb. 28, 2025 grand celebration with presentations of the Hon. Marquette L. Floyd Award of Excellence and other honors. AMISTAD’s newsletter carried the header, “This year, we celebrate the National Theme ‘Blacks and Labor’.”

Related Black History Month activities occurred at other institutions during February 2024, including a Suffolk University Black History Trivia event Feb. 26–27, 2024 in Boston and a multi-event regional calendar of arts programming in the Hampton Roads area. Those listings demonstrate broader community engagement but are separate from Suffolk County Courts’ in-courtroom programming.

For county residents, the courts hosting exhibitions and events signals a choice to use public civic space for cultural education and historical recognition. Readers who want to follow upcoming court-hosted programming should check announcements from Suffolk County Courts, AMISTAD, and the Islip Arts Council for schedules, artist lists, and any virtual access.