Black history is American history and Kewanee history. That was the message conveyed throughout the Community Black History Month Extravaganza held Sunday afternoon at the First Congregational church.
The theme of this year’s program was “Achieving more with togetherness and love.”
Brief biographies of consequential figures in African-American history, such as Frederick Douglas, Booker T. Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King were shared, as well as notable individuals in Kewanee’s history including Walter T. Bailey, Illinois’ first Black architect, and businessman John Easley, the first African American to run for city council, unsuccessfully, in the late 50s.
Current City Councilman Tyrone Baker, who served as emcee, said he was honored to be the first African-American to be elected to the city council, after Jean Blanks was the first appointed to the council several years earlier by Mayor Bruce Tossell to fill a vacant seat.
Winners of a Black History Month Essay Contest for fourth through sixth graders and seventh and eighth graders read their essays. Winners in the fourth through sixth grade were Summer Van Winkle, a sixth grader at Visitation, first, and Kamdyn Powell, a sixth grader at Central, second.
Winners in the seventh and eighth grade were Sophie Hamilton, an eighth grader at Visitation, first, and Emmie Hampton, second. First place winners received a $100 gift card. Second place winners received a $50 gift card.
Etta LaFlora, a member of the Kewanee Commission on Human Relations, said the committee received 38 essays from which to pick the winners this year.
Choir members from Wethersfield High School lead the audience in singing the National Negro Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and sang two other songs directed by Wethersfield vocal music instructor Hannah Wiyrick.
The choir of the First Congregational church, directed by Jim Blucker, sang a special arrangement of Thomas A. Dorsey’s gospel classic, “Precious Lord, Take my Hand,” written for the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King following his assassination in 1968. The House of Prayer Youth Choir also sang CeCe Winans’ “Never Lost a Battle.”
African-American scholarship winners in 2024 were announced including Elle Eastman of Wethersfield High School and Laryn Conley of Kewanee High School who each received the Dr. Ronald Thompson Memorial Scholarship, and Avery Rash of Wethersfield High School who received the Sgt. Floyd Blanks Memorial Scholarship.
Remarks were made by Treaton McVey, from the Kewanee office of State Rep. Travis Weaver, and Derek Jones, representing Rep. Eric Sorenson.
Pastor Louis Guthrie, of the Second Baptist Church, said he was encouraged to see so many young people in attendance and involved in the program, pointing out that it is important for future generations to learn about their history.
Members of the Black History Extravaganza Committee are Anita Blanks, Bill Jordan, Etta LaFlora, Louis Guthrie, Bruce Lang and Marshall Jones.
