Black History Month celebrated

By JIM BUSCH

For the MV Independent

The McKeesport History and Heritage Center celebrated Black History Month Saturday with an exhibit that presented the history of African Americans through music, poetry, dramatizations and dance.    

History Center Board President Marianne Macbeth welcomed the audience of about 50 people and introduced McKeesport native Sherry Johnson, who organized last year’s Black History Month program. Macbeth noted that the popularity and success of last year’s program led the center’s staff to invite Johnson back. 

The Rev. Harold Jefferson opened the program with a prayer, then led the singing of the inspirational anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Johnson said that the response to the 2019 program was so gratifying that they decided to expand this year’s event. She asked the audience to remember that the actors, actresses and musicians presenting the program were all amateurs, but that they would do their best to “share a little bit of our culture.” 

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