Paterson honors entrepreneurs, athletes in Black History Month celebration
PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11) — The City of Paterson recognized homegrown entrepreneurs and athletes at its annual Black History Month celebration.
Wednesday's celebration took place in the Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium, overlooking one of the only remaining Negro League ballparks in the country.
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Monae Clancy, a Paterson native, was among the honorees. Clancy will be a running back with the Jersey Shore Waves, an all-female tackle football team that will play in Hinchliffe Stadium beginning in April.
'When they had the Black History Month at City Hall, I remember walking past it a couple of times, but it actually is there, to be honored, it's amazing,' said Clancy. 'It's just a great feeling to be able to give back in the town that you grew up in.'
Rodney Addison, crowned 'Mr. America' was also recognized.
'I always say that it's a disrespect to expect your community to be better than what it is if you don't put the work in and contribute to that,' said Addison, who is also an entrepreneur.
'Here in the City of Paterson, we have our own version of Uber, known as 'Pull Up Rideshare,' where we employ 427 drivers throughout the State of New Jersey,' said Addison. 'Two hundred or so are from Paterson.'
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Wednesday's ceremony also honored women's boxing champion Shadasia Green and labor movement leader Brian Jackson.
'I always said that I wanted to be in a room where I can make a difference and I can make a change, and those changes are coming today so it's a great experience,' said Jackson, who is the first African American President of the Passaic County Building & Construction Trades Council.
'That's something I can tell my kids about, and my nieces and nephews, my Paterson recreation kids that I train on the daily,' said Green, who is the World Boxing Organization World Super Middleweight Champion. 'I feel honored. I'm grateful.'
The leaders hope to inspire and empower the next generation of Paterson leaders.
'No matter what circumstances are placed in front of you, go, go, keep going, don't stop,' said Clancy.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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