On Nov. 16, I was privileged to attend a meeting of the Great Neck Historical Society at the Main Library. A film was shown that gave the history of the African/American community in the Spinney Hill and the Steamboat Road areas of our North Hempstead Town.
Lloyd Means, who grew up in Great Neck, and Dedrick Johnson, Spinney Hill resident, interviewed and filmed people of the area who know its history, and who presented that history with love and passion for their home territory and all that has transpired politically, economically and educationally. The Spinney Hill area, and the High Street Community Center have produced leaders in the arts and I remember it as a thriving,and nurturing place for the youth of the area. I worked at the Head Start on High Street and met many wonderful mentors for the older students who played ball at High Street, wrote and acted in plays,were tutored and had a place to gather after school. Many would love to see the
programs offered restored. I believe this film, a labor of love for Dedrick Johnson and Lloyd Means that they worked on for two years, should be widely seen. It is a too often ignored piece of our history. If anyone can help with the distribution of this film, please contact Lloyd Means at 516-546-8723 or 516-315-6574. His e-mail address is lmeans@optonline.com.
If you can help, I thank you.
Naomi Feldheim
Great Neck
Full Disclosure:
I’m interviewed in the film
