Offering hope, celebrating the culture

Every culture has its story to share, achievements to list and role models to exemplify. February is Black History Month, which celebrates the role African Americans have played in shaping U.S. History.
It grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson  and other prominent African Americans in 1926. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated February as Black History Month.
“It is very important to have a month set aside to acknowledge the accomplishments of African Americans who have played significant roles and made remarkable contributions in American history,” said Bertha Pruitt, who has worked at the Five Towns Community Center for nearly 40 years and has served as its executive director for the past five.
Pruitt said that near the end of February the community center hosts a cultural program in collaboration with other community groups or people that includes poetry, music, readings and other performances to celebrate Black History Month. But learning is not restricted to just one month.
“The heart of the community center is our youth program; therefore programming is geared to educating and enlightening young people through movies, field trips to the African American museums, plays and performances depicting contributions made by African Americans through advocacy, in the areas of science, literature, art, entertainment, sports, etc.,” said Pruitt, who also takes the time to attend Black History Month events outside of the center.
To further enhance the use of dance, Lawrence School District dance instructor Laila Sales incorporates the work of choreographers and dancers Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey and Lester Horton into her curriculum. “Martha Graham was the mother of modern dance and her work was influenced by Egyptian hieroglyphics as is Lester’s, which brings it back to the history of our culture,” Sales said. “The fact that black history is nationally recognized it exposes our children to the diversity and multiculturalism that exists in this country.”