Updated Feb. 13 due to weather rescheduling.
Beaufort County Community College (Beaufort CCC) will host a series of weekly events throughout February to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. The monthlong program highlights the historic contributions of Black educators, local families, and community leaders while engaging students and residents in reflection, storytelling, and celebration.
Founded by Carter G. Woodson, Black History Month traces its origins to 1926, when Woodson established Negro History Week to promote the study and recognition of African American history at a time when it was largely excluded from textbooks and public discourse. Known as the “Father of Black History,” Woodson believed that understanding Black history was essential to understanding American history itself. The observance expanded over the decades and was officially recognized as Black History Month in 1976. As institutions across the country commemorate the centennial anniversary of the original observance, Woodson’s vision continues to guide efforts to educate, reflect, and celebrate the lasting contributions of African Americans to the nation’s cultural, civic, and economic life.
A Rosenwald program is scheduled for Feb. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include a screening of Rosenwald Journey featuring Jere Snyder of Leaf Productions. Attendees are asked to RSVP with Raleigh and Loretta Younger at 252-943-7268 or 252-943-4975. Lunch will be provided.
The second week, themed “Legacy of Freedom,” will feature a presentation by Leesa Jones on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at noon.
Week three, titled “Legacy of Community,” will highlight oral histories collected from across Beaufort County. The panel will be hosted by Alice Sadler and will include audio selections from Clark Curtis’s project, “Black Oral Histories of Beaufort County,” which currently features stories from more than 20 community members.
“A programming”Legacy of Education” will focus on the legacy of education with a spotlight on Rosenwald Schools. The college’s Lester Library will host a presentation Wednesday, Feb. 25, at noon by Phyllis Johnson of the Ware Creek Rosenwald School.
During the final week of events, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at noon, the college will bury a time capsule containing college and community artifacts that commemorate Black history and the month of celebrations for future generations.
The month will conclude with a Community Mass Choir performance at Metropolitan AME Zion Church (102 West Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Washington) on Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. The event will feature music spanning the eras of slavery, civil rights, and contemporary Black history. The first rehearsal will be held Jan. 31. Interested participants should contact choir directrix Fannie Willis at 252-946-1472.
“We are honored to celebrate a century of Black History Month by elevating the voices and experiences that shaped Eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. David Loope, president of Beaufort CCC. “These events not only honor the past but invite our community to imagine a future built on shared history and opportunity.”