Last weekend was one of nostalgia when I served as guest speaker at the A.M.E. Zion Academy
Class of ’89 Reunion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The gala was well planned and executed,
and the dinner was delicious. The DJ rocked the evening away with great sounds and it brought
out the Alligator spirit in attendees at the gala. The ceremony reminded me of back in the day in
1981 when I taught at Zion as an Eleventh and Twelfth-grade English Instructor for morning and
evening sessions. It was also during the early days of the Armed Forces of Liberia coup d’état.
Throughout the gig, the A.M.E. Zion alumni were vibrant, and they demonstrated a sense of
purpose and love for their Alma Mater.
Further, it is noteworthy to state that the cohesiveness, sense of direction, and matureness of the
members of A.M.E. Zion Academy Class of ’89 reflected the Christian doctrine of being their
brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. Their cordial interactions and comradery were also exemplary of
the academic training that they received and that propels them to strive for excellence within and
outside the walls of the Academy that is run by the African Methodist Episcopal Church of
Liberia. Another reason the institution had high reputation back in the day was because of the
devoted faculty the school employed and because their former Principal, Reverend Dr. Frederick
Umoja, was an astute educational leader, a disciplinarian and a very caring man of God who
wanted the best for his Alligator Family.
Reverend Umoja is also credited with establishing the A.M.E. Zion Community College and for
laying the groundwork for the establishment of the A.M.E. Zion University. Overall, Reverend
Umoja’s contribution to the field of education and mentoring Liberian youth is immeasurable.