Monessen council honors city’s Black history makers

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Monessen Council recognized many of the contributions the city’s Black residents have made at this month’s meeting in recognition of Black History Month.

“Since the founding of our city, Monessen’s Black community has excelled in contributing to the progress of our city and our nation, by their exemplary resolve in rising above all obstacles and highlighting the strength and grit that is found in a Monessenite,” Mayor Matt Shorraw said, reading from a proclamation.

The document outlined much of the Black community’s history in the city along with accomplishments of specific residents.

Juneteenth, originally known as Emancipation Day, was celebrated in Monessen by the African American community in the early years of the 20th century, with parades, a queen, lectures and a reading of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

The Wayman Chapel Historical Literary Society was founded in 1900 as the first literary group in the city, and the Afro-American League was formed in 1901.

Black community members formed the John M. Langston Social and Political Club in Monessen in 1901.

The African American business community of Monessen formed the Progressive Business Association in 1904 and the Monessen Choral and Literary Club was formed to promote the study of literature and music among African Americans in 1909.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Black American Legion in Monessen, formed in 1921, by veterans of the Great War.

The Mon Valley NAACP formed in 1929.

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