Goose Creek Mayor Signs Proclamation Declaring February Black History Month, Celebration Program Announced

Each year beginning on February 1, nationwide events honor the history and contributions of African Americans. 

The origins of Black History Month date back to 1926, when a historian named Carter G. Woodson spearheaded “Negro History Week.”

This year’s theme for Black History Month is “Crisis in Black Education” and focuses on the crucial role of education in the history of African Americans. The crisis in black education first began in the days of slavery when it was unlawful for slaves to learn to read and write. In pre-Civil War northern cities, free blacks were forced as children to walk long distances past white schools on their way to the one school relegated solely to them. Whether by laws, policies, or practices, racially separated schools remained the norm in America from the late nineteenth century well into our own time.

More than three million students — from early grades to high school — are suspended from school every year. These suspensions disproportionately target Black and Latino students, causing them to miss critical learning time as well as other school services and opportunities, contributing to the achievement gap and the push out and dropout rates for these students.

The needs of black youth in public schools are especially critical in closing the achievement gap. The needs for equity and access to consistency is equally important in high achieving schools as well.

On Friday February 3, 2017 at City Hall Goose Creek Mayor Michael Heitzler signed a proclamation declaring February “Black History Month” in the City of Goose Creek. 

In attendance when Mayor Heitzler signed the proclamation which recognizes the contributions of African Americans in our country’s history were Councilmember Mark Phillips and members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Goose Creek Branch. 

“Black History Month gives us the opportunity to celebrate not only the legacy and heritage of African Americans but our diversity as well. And, our diversity is really what makes our community and nation as strong as it is."

On Monday, February 27 at 7PM the Goose Creek NAACP Branch will host a Black History Month celebration with the U. S. Postal Service for a Goose Creek unveiling of this year’s Black History Series stamp honoring Dorothy Height. The event is free and open to the public.

Dorothy Height is the African-American woman who former president Barack Obama once called “the godmother of the civil rights movement.” She is now commemorated on a Forever series U.S. postage stamp. The U.S. Postal Service will unveil the Dorothy Height Forever stamp, the 40th in its Black Heritage Forever series during the Goose Creek Black History Month program. The stamp depicts Height in one of her signature wide-brimmed hats.  

For more information on this event contact the program chairman, John Matthews at 843-442-1319.

Event Information

Goose Creek NAACP and U.S. Postal Service – Black History Month Program with unveiling of Black History Series Forever Stamp

7PM Monday, February 27, 2017
Berkeley Electric Building
2 Springhall Drive
Goose Creek, SC 29445

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