This February, people all over the country are observing Black History Month, and Sinclair is no exception. Several events will be taking place throughout the month.
According to the NAACP Website, what would become known as Black History started out as a week-long event held in the second week of February, due to it being between the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. Carter G. Woodson, the event’s founder, was passionate about preserving black history, so he created the celebration in 1926. Then, 50 years later, President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month and declared it a national holiday. Since then the event has spread worldwide, with Canada taking part in 1995 and England in 1987.
Locally, Sinclair will be taking part in several ways, one of which being the Black Unity conference. This 2-day event will feature several Zoom presentations, including performances, author Heather McGhee discussing her new book, and a webinar led by Doctor Brittany D. Jones. Taking place over the first weekend in February, you can sign up for either event online.
On Feb. 9 and 10, students and staff will be able to see a production of “The Meeting” absolutely free. The play, written by Jeff Stetson, theorizes what would occur if Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X held a secret meeting in a Harlem Hotel, to discuss their views and beliefs. After the 30-minute play, there will be a panel discussing the content. You can learn more information online, and seating will be first come first served.
Other events taking place over the next month include a Trivia night dedicated to black history and a discussion on the book “Bayard Rustin: Angelic Troublemaker.” The novel chronicles the life of Bayard Rustin, the man behind the March on Washington, and ponders why most Americans aren’t familiar with him. This will be an online event held over Zoom.
Black History Month is a time when Americans can look back and celebrate all the achievements made by African Americans in the country, however, it is also a time to recognize all the atrocities committed against the black community in our nation’s history up to today. To learn more about any of these events, Sinclair has a dedicated calendar with information on each online.
Alex Cutler
Reporter