Black History Month at Rotary

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Black History Month is a time to honor the lives and legacies of many African Americans who fought for freedom and justice. Noon Rotary took some time today to learn about black history here in the Zanesville area.

Dr. Anita Jackson was the keynote speaker. She shared the names of many African Americans who made a difference in our city. Jackson spoke about Nelson T. Gant a famous slave who became a prominent member of society. While Dr. Jackson wasn’t available to talk, the President of the local NAACP chapter, Kenneth Burke, was in attendance and said Nelson T. Gant is an inspiration to African Americans.

“And I think what he’s done with his…to show that there’s nothing we can’t do. If we want to put our minds to it we can do anything we want, to achieve anything we want, like he did. And so, like I said, there’s no stopping us if we put our minds to it.”

Burke also shared the importance of celebrating the month and teaching younger generations about black history.

“A lot of the younger people now don’t know the things that really went on and it brings out the highlight of things in history of what we went through through the years. What Dr. King went through and coming up in slavery and the things that happened before. If you don’t celebrate it and remind people, the younger people, will never grasp the fact of where we’ve come from.”

Burke also talked about the influence Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had on his life and others. Burke said he was at the airport when Dr. King’s body arrived back in Georgia after he was killed. He talked about how he watched the family escort the body. He also talked about being at the inauguration for the first black President of the United States, Barack Obama. He said Dr. King paved the way for President Obama.

“My heartfelt that I call the dreamer and the dream, which involves Dr. King and Barack Obama. And that’s history is to me…what Dr. King did. And then the results of President Obama.”

There are several Black History Month events taking place in Zanesville. Here are some of them:

• The Zanesville Civic League Community Center, 23rd Annual Taste of Color Ethnic Food, Performance, Silent Auction, and Award Ceremony Essay Contest
  • Saturday, February 17, 2018, from 1-3 p.m. at 928 Jackson St.
  • Tickets: $8
• St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Soul Food Feast and Black History Program “Remembering Our Past, Shaping Our Future”: Songs, Poetry, Dance, and Mime Groups
  • Sunday, February 18, 2018, at 3 p.m. at 561 Pine St.
  • Tickets: $10
• St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Black History Problem by Elder Terrence E. Brown Greater Apostolic Church of Christ
  • Sunday, February 25, 2018, at 3 p.m. at 561 Pine St.
  • Tickets: Free