Black History Month

Friends of the Doleman Black Heritage Museum, Washington County Public Schools and The Maryland Theatre are collaborating for a third year to celebrate Black History Month. New this year, the museum will honor local educator Leon Brumback for his dedication to education in Washington County Public Schools. The event will be Sunday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre. Doors open at 4 p.m. with the award-winning Bowie State University Gospel Choir as guest performer and Sen. Joanne C. Benson as mistress of ceremonies.

Hagerstown YMCA plans Black History Month program The Hagerstown YMCA Black Achievers will host a community Black History Month program Sunday, Feb. 19, at 3 p.m. at Bridge of Life Church, 14 S. Potomac St. in Hagerstown. For more information, call Deborah Phillips at 301-739-3990, ext. 4239. Chocolate Sunday Sunday will be Chocolate Sunday at Ebenezer AME Church, 40 W. Bethel St. in Hagerstown. The event will be a Women's Day fundraiser. Church members will sell “Everything Chocolate,” beginning at 1 p.m.    The menu includes chocolate cake, cookies, candy, muffins, brownies and chocolate pie.  There will also be chocolate-covered strawberries.

As we celebrate Black History Month in February, a month dedicated to celebrating and remembering the history, accomplishments and triumphs of black American culture, here are a few facts: On this day, Feb. 3, 1989, six-time All-Star Bill White was named president of the National League in Major League Baseball. The former St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman became the first black man to head a major sports league. On Feb. 3, 1903, Jack Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion.

A Black History Month tribute will take place Sunday, Feb. 5, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Review and Herald Publishing Association, 55 W. Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown. The theme is "Education Reform: Shaping Our Future. " The scheduled speakers are Earl Stoner, Fanny Crawford, Johnathan Burrs, Niettie Anderson-Burrs, Dickson Tabi, Dora Rice, Kelly Wright, Jay Kelsh, Loretta Wright, Dewain Esmond, Kevin Watson, Thomas Segar, Yvonne Jenkins and Robert Petties. Music will be provided by Arron Worthy, students from Contemporary School of the Arts and Gallery Inc.'s music program, Kerensa Gray, Hagerstown YMCA Achievers, Lea Jolin, Sandra Ortiz, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Poling, and the Pride Family.

By CLYDE FORD Staff Writer, Charles Town RANSON, W.Va. - Jefferson County residents will mark Black History Month with a wide range of programs, from soul food dinners to an actor portraying historical black figures. "Even though it's black history, we are trying to have something for people of all races," said Gladys Davenport, spokeswoman for the King's Apostle Multicultural Group. The Ranson group will hold a festival on Saturday to bring people together for a day of soul food, music and speeches, she said.

The third annual Hagerstown YMCA Black History Month Celebration will be Monday at the Hagerstown YMCA at 1100 Eastern Blvd. The program will begin at 10 a.m. and end at noon. Light refreshments will be served from noon to 12:30 p.m. The theme for this year's program is "Our History. " The guest speaker will be Joseph Summers of the Camp Curtin YMCA in Harrisburg, Pa. The Saint James School Choir will be among the guests on hand.

HAGERSTOWN karenh@herald-mail.com During a morning of solo performances and remarks, YMCA program director Joseph Summers had a message for an audience gathered to commemorate Black History Month. "It's not about me," said Summers, who has worked with the Black Achievers program at Camp Curtin YMCA in Harrisburg, Pa. About 150 people, including a large contingent of small children in the YMCA's day-care program, gathered Monday in an aerobics classroom at Hagerstown YMCA to hear keynote speaker Summers and numerous musical performances.

As we prepare for our state's 150th birthday and reflect upon our history, we have many wonderful people for whom to be thankful - people who have worked together to make West Virginia what it is today. Our state was built by people of all different backgrounds; people like you and me, with stories passed down from generation to generation. Whether it's the fine craftsmen and resourceful laborers from Ireland, Scotland, Germany and Africa, the Swiss farmers who settled Helvetia or the first settlers who found their ways along the Midland Trail, their stories speak volumes to our culture, history and traditions.

Black History Month 2013 In honor of Black History Month, the Doleman Black Heritage Museum recognized the following athletes during a program Feb. 23 at The Maryland Theatre: Tom Parson Jr. Parson played basketball at North Hagerstown High School and Hagerstown Junior College. He was captain of the HJC men's basketball team, led the Hawks in assists in 1972 and 1973, and was named to the Maryland JuCo All-Tournament Team. He studied education at Concord College in West Virginia, where he led the team in assists.

Thumbs up to the students who participated in the annual Washington County Spelling Bee at Western Heights Middle School. These children battled nerves and some tough words to make their parents, teachers and communities proud. Thumbs up to the Doleman Black Heritage Museum for hosting its fourth annual celebration of Black History Month at The Maryland Theatre. The organization honored 10 people for their inductions into the Washington County and Hagerstown Community College halls of fame.

The 4th Doleman Black Heritage Museum Celebration of Black History on Saturday at The Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown was a bit of a family affair for the Parsons. Cathy Parson and her brother, Tom Parson, were among those honored at the event for their respective inductions in the Washington County and Hagerstown Community College halls of fame. And their sister, Alesia Parson-McBean, organized the music-filled celebration of Black History Month, which was headlined by the Bowie State University Gospel Choir.

Letterkenny Army Depot's first African-American commander spoke during the Chambersburg base's annual Black History Month observance. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert C. Gaskill Sr. was the guest speaker at Wednesday's event held in the great room at depot headquarters. Gaskill served as depot commander from 1974 to 1975 and was the first African-American to assume command of the base. Current commander Col. Victor S. Hagan is the second African-American to hold the position.

African-Americans have been part of the American story from the founding of our nation. Men and women of African ancestry have been instrumental in forging the great nation we have today. For too long, racism and prejudice obscured the rich history of African-Americans. Since 1926, February has been Black History Month, a time to celebrate America's beautiful diversity, and to honor those who have worked hard to ensure that our diversity would forever be one of our greatest strengths.

Leon Brumback, a longtime educator in Washington County Public Schools who blazed new trails as a black student, was remembered during a ceremony Sunday as one who was the “wind under the wings” of countless students in the county. Brumback was honored for teaching more than just subject matter, and instead helping students with the lessons of life and helping them deal with issues like racial tensions while he was at North Hagerstown High School. Brumback was the honored guest during the third annual Doleman Black Heritage Museum's Celebration of Black History at The Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown.

Washington County Spelling Bee Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students from Washington County private and public schools will compete. Saturday, 1 p.m. Western Heights Middle School, 1300 Marshall St., Hagerstown. Mathcounts More than 100 students from nine schools in Washington and Allegany counties are expected to participate. Sponsored by the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers. Head-to-head competition begins Saturday around 11:30 a.m. E. Russell Hicks Middle School, 1321 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown.

The Ladies of Ebenezer AME Church, 40 W. Bethel St., will hold a fish fry Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. for one of its Women's Day fundraisers. It will be eat in or take out. The menu includes fish, fried potatoes and onions, coleslaw, cornbread and soda. The meal costs $8.   Black history program planned On Sunday, Second Christian Church, 65 W. North Ave., will present a Black History Month program at the 10 a.m. Sunday school service. The public is invited.

Friends of Doleman Black Heritage Museum, Washington County Public Schools, Hagerstown Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau and The Maryland Theatre will celebrate Black History Month Sunday. The event will be held at The Maryland Theatre, starting at 5 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. The event will feature Bowie State University Gospel Choir and performances by students from Barbara Ingram School for the Arts and North Hagerstown High School. Leon Brumback, a retired educator in county public schools, will be the honored guest.