Once again this year, The Black History Museum of Warren County and Young Men United will join forces to host the 2023 Black History Month program at Bernard Gym. The program is slated to start at noon on Feb. 11. The theme for this year is Black Resistance.
According to event organizer, James “Mickey” Gwyn, this year’s observance will feature a dynamic speaker, Dr. (Ed. D.) Brelinda Johnson, Vice President of Student Success at Motlow State Community College. Songs, poetry and a catered luncheon are also on the agenda.
In addition to the program on Feb. 11, there will also be a Youth Day on Feb. 25. The Youth Day will bring together current and former members of the Warren County High School Black History Club, Multicultural Club and Black Student Union to discuss past and present accomplishments of these groups. The organizer for Youth Day is Ella Richmond and activities will start at noon, also.
In a press release from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the founders of Black History Month, African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms, and police killings since our arrival upon these shores. These efforts have been to advocate for a dignified self-determined life in a just democratic society in the United States and beyond the United States political jurisdiction. The 1950s and 1970s in the United States was defined by actions such as sit-ins, boycotts, walk outs, strikes by Black people and white allies in the fight for justice against discrimination in all sectors of society from employment to education to housing. Black people have had to consistently push the United States to live up to its ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all. Systematic oppression has sought to negate much of the dreams of our forefathers, like Langston Hughes, and our freedom fighters, like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fannie Lou Hamer fought to realize. Black people have sought ways to nurture and protect Black lives, and for autonomy of their physical and intellectual bodies through armed resistance, voluntary emigration, nonviolence, education, literature, sports, media, and legislation/politics.
In an effort to live, maintain and protect economic success, Black people have organized/planned violent insurrections against those who enslaved them and armed themselves against murderous white mobs as seen in Memphis, TN (1892), Rosewood, FL (1923), and New Orleans, LA (1900).
Black faith institutions were spaces where Black communities met to organize resistance efforts, inspired folk to participate in the movements, and offered sanctuary during times of crisis. To promote awareness of the myriad of issues and activities, media outlets were developed, including radio shows, podcasts, newspapers (i.e. Chicago Defender, Chicago Bee, the Afro, The California Eagle, Omaha Star, the Crisis, etc.). Ida B. Wells used publications to contest the scourge of lynching. These outlets were pivotal in sharing the successes and challenges of resistance movements.
By resisting, Black people have achieved triumphs, successes and progress as seen in the end of slavery, dismantling of Jim and Jane Crow segregation in the South, increased political representation and the passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Gwyn stated anyone who would like to assist with preparations for the Feb. 11 or Feb. 25 events, can contact him at mickeygwyn@comcast.net or 615-962-9985.
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