The Dream Academy students at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Asbury Park New Jersey gave the students in Ghana two presentations. The first presentation was on Christopher Columbus and the other was the impact that European Explorers had on the world. First, the presentation on Columbus had to deal with whether or not Columbus Day should be celebrated. The Dream Academy students pointed out that there was a heated debate about Columbus and his involvement with the indigenous people. A question remained which was did Columbus enslave the indigenous people therefore promoted slavery or was this nothing more than false history. In addition, the Dream Academy students informed the students in Ghana that there was a heated debate on the removal of many Columbus statues. The Dream Academy students presented both arguments for Columbus day, they should still have it and not have it.

After that presentation, the Dream Academy students discussed the impact that the European Explorers had on the world. For instance, they spoke about the achievements of Diaz, da Gama, Cabot, Vespucci, Cabral, Ponce de Leon, de Soto, Magellan, Cortes, Verrazano, Pizarro, Cartier, Coronado, Cabrillo, Champlain, Hudson, Marquette/Joliet, La Salle, and Lewis/Clark. Furthermore, they also mentioned how the Thirteen British Colonies evolved from the explorations of these European Explorers.

Once their presentations were complete, the students in Ghana asked multiple questions such as what were these explorers looking for to begin with and were there any artifacts, diaries, or any other proof that these explorers achieved what they said.

The Dream Academy:

Juna Weedon

Jeremy Reese

Alejandra Garcia Chavez

Hasley Clemente

Jimya Davis-Sloan

Vah’Kyla Esdaile

Enjonae Griffin

Guadalupe Hernandez-Nava

Abira Hodge

Amaya Hodge

Tiviana Kenney

Javon King

Kayla Lewis

Ariana Linares

Joseph Lopez-Barrios

Andrew Martinez

Tysion Murchison

Hailey Perez

Principal Supervisor of this event: Mr. Gerbino