Panel shares community’s legacy

Black History Month unites Las Vegas, as a panel spoke on the progress made with race relations in the city

by victoria gonzalez

Rebel Yell Staff Writer

Five prominent African American figures from the community came together to share their stories at “Generations Speak: The Black Experience in Nevada,” a commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. and the kickoff for Black History Month.

MGM Mirage, along with UNLV, sponsored the event on Tuesday night that brought Hannah Brown, Trish Geran, Frank Hawkins, Sarann Knight Preddy and Steven Brooks together on the discussion panel.

José Melendrez, assistant vice president for Diversity and Inclusion at UNLV, said MGM Mirage has been involved with the diversity program for the last four years.

Melendrez added that the individuals on the panel have incredible lives and stories to tell and that the event should both educate, and celebrate UNLV’s outreach.

Brooks, chair of the Las Vegas Urban League and chief of staff to Las Vegas Councilman Ricki Barlow, spoke some inspirational words about what the past has done for the future.

“Martin Luther King walked so Barack Obama could run and Obama ran so generation X could fly,” Brooks said, borrowing the words from Donna Brazile.

Debra Nelson, vice president of corporate diversity and community affairs for MGM Mirage, served as the moderator of the panel and introduced each of the panelists as “living examples of history.”

Nelson also gave an overview of black history in America and said that it was a mere snapshot of what the history really was.

Trish Geran, author of “Beyond the Glittering Lights – The Pride and Perseverance of African Americans in Las Vegas,” said that she was bothered that blacks were not recognized in the history of Las Vegas.

Geran talked about the history she knew and about the popular black entertainment in Las Vegas’s history.

The first and only black woman to receive a Nevada gaming license, Preddy spoke about what she has experienced in the 68 years that she has been living in Las Vegas.

Preddy, who said she be 90 years old in July, opened and ran the Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino for more than 12 years.

“Las Vegas has always been segregated, and still is. Now it is just segregated under the carpet,” Preddy said.

Preddy, who said she has always been passionate of helping people, was the first black woman in the world to receive an unrestricted gaming license.

Hannah Brown, the president of the Coalition of 100 Black Women of Las Vegas, mentioned that it is a disaster that Las Vegas is still not ready for minorities in leadership positions.

“If you have chocolate brown skin, you don’t get the job. You get housekeeping jobs,” Brown said.

Frank Hawkins, president of the Las Vegas chapter of the NAACP, said that he is fighting for equality and to be given the same opportunity as others.

“Minorities are last hired, first fired,” Hawkins stated.

He said that until everyone is treated equal, there is a place for the NAACP.

“Somebody has to speak for those that won’t speak for themselves,” Hawkins said.

“Nobody is fighting for us,” Brooks said.

Cecelia Jerrell, a member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNLV and a retired teacher from New York, thought the event was very informative and inspirational.

“The panelists spoke from their hearts and have a universal experience,” Jerrell said. “I could tell the majority of the panelists feel there is more that can be done.”

Rhea Watson, doctorate student in experimental psychology, said it was really innovative but she would have liked to see the topic of education discussed a bit more.

“It was nice to honor people from the community and I am happy I came,” Watson said. “It is a start, anything that opens up the voice.”

Black History Month unites Las Vegas, as a panel spoke on the progress made with race relations in the city

by victoria gonzalez

Rebel Yell Staff Writer

Five prominent African American figures from the community came together to share their stories at “Generations Speak: The Black Experience in Nevada,” a commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. and the kickoff for Black History Month.

MGM Mirage, along with UNLV, sponsored the event on Tuesday night that brought Hannah Brown, Trish Geran, Frank Hawkins, Sarann Knight Preddy and Steven Brooks together on the discussion panel.

José Melendrez, assistant vice president for Diversity and Inclusion at UNLV, said MGM Mirage has been involved with the diversity program for the last four years.

Melendrez added that the individuals on the panel have incredible lives and stories to tell and that the event should both educate, and celebrate UNLV’s outreach.

Brooks, chair of the Las Vegas Urban League and chief of staff to Las Vegas Councilman Ricki Barlow, spoke some inspirational words about what the past has done for the future.

“Martin Luther King walked so Barack Obama could run and Obama ran so generation X could fly,” Brooks said, borrowing the words from Donna Brazile.

Debra Nelson, vice president of corporate diversity and community affairs for MGM Mirage, served as the moderator of the panel and introduced each of the panelists as “living examples of history.”

Nelson also gave an overview of black history in America and said that it was a mere snapshot of what the history really was.

Trish Geran, author of “Beyond the Glittering Lights – The Pride and Perseverance of African Americans in Las Vegas,” said that she was bothered that blacks were not recognized in the history of Las Vegas.

Geran talked about the history she knew and about the popular black entertainment in Las Vegas’s history.

The first and only black woman to receive a Nevada gaming license, Preddy spoke about what she has experienced in the 68 years that she has been living in Las Vegas.

Preddy, who said she be 90 years old in July, opened and ran the Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino for more than 12 years.

“Las Vegas has always been segregated, and still is. Now it is just segregated under the carpet,” Preddy said.

Preddy, who said she has always been passionate of helping people, was the first black woman in the world to receive an unrestricted gaming license.

Hannah Brown, the president of the Coalition of 100 Black Women of Las Vegas, mentioned that it is a disaster that Las Vegas is still not ready for minorities in leadership positions.

“If you have chocolate brown skin, you don’t get the job. You get housekeeping jobs,” Brown said.

Frank Hawkins, president of the Las Vegas chapter of the NAACP, said that he is fighting for equality and to be given the same opportunity as others.

“Minorities are last hired, first fired,” Hawkins stated.

He said that until everyone is treated equal, there is a place for the NAACP.

“Somebody has to speak for those that won’t speak for themselves,” Hawkins said.

“Nobody is fighting for us,” Brooks said.

Cecelia Jerrell, a member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNLV and a retired teacher from New York, thought the event was very informative and inspirational.

“The panelists spoke from their hearts and have a universal experience,” Jerrell said. “I could tell the majority of the panelists feel there is more that can be done.”

Rhea Watson, doctorate student in experimental psychology, said it was really innovative but she would have liked to see the topic of education discussed a bit more.

“It was nice to honor people from the community and I am happy I came,” Watson said. “It is a start, anything that opens up the voice.”