By Peggy Mackenzie
Lewisburg Mayor Beverly White proclaimed February 2020 as National African American History Month.
She encourages all residents of Lewisburg to join her in celebrating the collective ingenuity, creativity, cultures and traditions of African Americans and to commit to raising awareness and appreciation of African American history by participating in educational events honoring the contributions of Black Americans. The event was held in the Paul R. Cooley Council Chambers at City Hall on Feb. 12 with the mayor accompanied by several local students.
This year, the proclamation’s theme, “African Americans and the Vote,” coincides with the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment, which gave African American men the right to vote. Today, this guarantee is enforced primarily through the Voting Rights Act of 1965, an enduring legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and the Civil Rights Movement.