Happy Valentine’s
February is Black Hisrory Month. Black History Month started as Negro History Week. This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Both of these dates were celebrated by the black communities since the late 19th century.
Historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History created this week. The initial emphasis was to encourage coordinated teaching of the history of Blacks (African American History) in public schools. I encourage everyone to research African American History and you will be amazed by the inventions and strides that African Americans have achieved.
In the past, I struggled with the term African American — I was not born in Africa but my descendants were. But now I struggle with the word “black.” The meaning of black according to the dictionary is absence of light, sinister, evil, gloomy, occurrence of disaster, hostile and angry. Those words do not describe me or the race that I represent.
Sylvester and Union Grove UMC will have our Annual Black History Program on February 17 and February 24 respectively. If you would like to attend it will be during normal church service that starts at 11:00 a.m.
Plans for the Great American Cleanup have begun. Cleanup activities will start on March 9 ending on March 11. We are asking for donations of water and snacks to accommodate those that will be cleaning up the roads on those days. Oil reefs are also needed for road captains and cleanup. If you would like to volunteer or donate in form or fashion, please contact me at 16015079567.
We also plan to have a meal for those who participate on Monday, March 11 at noon. Thanks for all your anticipated cooperation and Let’s help keep our communities looking great.
