Black History Month Copyright Š 2012 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
February 4, 2012
Section B
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Faces that shaped our history
At left, the four girls who were killed in the 16th Street Church bombing. Above, Martin Luther King, Fred Shuttlesworth and Ralph David Abernathy hold a press conference.
Community celebrates black history
Harriet Tubman
Marcus Garvey
John Lewis
Carter G. Woodson
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CrossRoadsNews
February 4, 2012
Many myths surround Carver. He didn’t invent peanut butter. Neither did he create 300 products from peanuts.
Carver exhibit examines remarkable life of scientist, educator A new exhibition examining the life of scientist and educator George Washington Carver is on display at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum through May 27. The exhibition, organized by Chicago’s renowned Field Museum in collaboration with Tuskegee University and the National Park Service, presents a complex and George W. Carver intimate portrait of one of America’s bestknown names and least-studied men. The Carter Presidential Museum is the final stop for the exhibition, which began in 2008. When the exhibit ends, the more than 150 Carver artifacts will be returned to various museums around the country. This is the last chance to see so much Carver material in one place. The exhibit portrays Carver as a trailblazing scholar, innovative scientist, pioneering conservationist, humanitarian and impassioned educator. It follows Carver’s entire life and career, revealing both his struggles and his remarkable achievements. It brings together more than 100 artifacts from Carver’s personal life and work along with animated and live videos; interactive displays; a diorama of Carver’s childhood farm; and a re-creation of the Jesup wagon, his mobile classroom. Many myths surround Carver. He didn’t invent peanut butter; it had existed in many cultures for centuries. Neither did he create 300 new products from peanuts, although he created some and collected many others. Carver had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and overcame tremendous odds to become one of America’s most versatile scientists. He was a trailblazing proponent of sustainability who believed that “nature produces no waste” and neither should man. He was a humanitarian whose primary goal was, as he put it, “to help the farmer and fill the poor man’s empty dinner pail.”
George Washington Carver, who was a scholar, scientist, conservationist, humanitarian and educator, had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
Carver, who was a frail child, was born into slavery in Diamond Grove, Mo., around 1864. The exact date of his birth is unknown because slave owners did not keep good records of the birth of their slaves’ offspring. He and his mother were kidnapped by slave raiders when he was still an infant. He was abandoned by the kidnappers and rescued by his owners, Moses and Susan Carver, who adopted both George and his brother. His real mother was never found. Moses Carver was a farmer in a Missouri frontier town, a frugal man who abhorred waste of any kind. Since George was a sickly child, unable to help much on the farm, Susan Carver taught him handiwork such as embroidery, knitting and crocheting. George also spent a lot of his time outside, collecting rocks, observing nature and
creating a “secret garden.” His sensitivity and curiosity were apparent, and even as a child he was known throughout the area for his remarkable skill with plants. “I wanted to know the name of every stone and flower and insect and bird and beast. I wanted to know where it got its color, where it got its life – but there was no one to tell me,” Carver later wrote. His foster parents had no formal education, and there were no schools close to their home – only a Blue Back Speller in which George found few answers to his endless questions. He left home at age 13, with the Carvers’ blessings, to seek an education. With a rich collection of artifacts, the exhibition traces Carver’s path and passions as he worked his way through elementary and
The Black History Month Hike at Sweetwater Creek on Feb. 4 includes a tour of the ruins of a textile mill built by slaves and destroyed by Sherman’s troops in 1864.
Films shed light on plight of blacks and is sent away to a chain Film buffs can “Celegang. While he is imprisbrate Black History Month oned, his young son helps Through Film” at a number his mother farm their land of DeKalb Library branches and search for their dog this month. Sounder, who ran away. It “Roots,” the legendary earned four Academy Award TV miniseries based on Alex nominations, including best Haley’s novel “Roots: The picture. Saga of an American Fam“Selma, Lord, Selma” ily,” will be screened Fridays is based on true events in February at the Hairston surrounding the Selma-toCrossing Library. Released Mongomery march for votin 1977, “Roots” received 36 ing rights in March 1965 that Emmy Award nominations came to be known as “Bloody and won nine. It also won a “Roots” is being screened at Sunday” because of police Golden Globe and a Peabody the Hairston Crossing Library. brutality. Award. Its finale still stands The film tells the story through the eyes as the third-highest rated U.S. TV program of an 11-year-old black girl named Sheyann ever. The weekly 2-to-4 p.m. screenings, for Webb played by Jurnee Smollett. It premiered adults 18 and older, kicked off Feb. 3 with as a TV movie on ABC on Jan. 17, 1999. “Ruby Bridges” is a 1998 made-for-TV Volume 1, episodes 1 and 2. Volumes 2 and 3 will be screened on Feb. 10 and 17. “Roots, movie, written by Toni Ann Johnson and Crossing Over: How Roots Captivated the based on the true story of Ruby Bridges, Entire Nation” will be screened on Feb. 24. the first black student to attend integrated The library is at 4911 Redan Road in schools in New Orleans in 1960. As a 6-year Stone Mountain. For more information, call old, Ruby was one of four black first-graders, selected on the basis of test scores, to attend 404-508-7170. The Gresham Library is screening a num- previously all-white public schools in New ber of family films for ages 5 and older in Orleans. Ruby was sent to William Frantz honor of Black History Month. It will show Public School by herself. The film was nominated for several the PG-rated movie “Sounder” on Feb. 7. On Feb. 14, “Selma, Lord, Selma” will be awards, including an NAACP Image Award. screened. “Ruby Bridges” will be screened on Johnson won the 1998 Humanities Prize for her teleplay. The film also won the ChristoFeb. 21 and “King” on Feb. 28. “Sounder,” which was released in 1972, pher Award. The library is at 2418 Gresham Road in stars Cicely Tyson and Paul Winfield. It tells the story of a poor man who steals food to Atlanta. For more information, call 404feed his family during the Great Depression 244-4374.
high school, through rejection and welcome, to Simpson College in Iowa, then to Iowa State University, and finally to a research and teaching position at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama. Carver died Jan. 5, 1943. The museum is open from 9 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from noon until 4:45 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults; $6 for seniors (60-plus), military and students with IDs. Children 16 and under are free, and there is plenty of free parking. The Carver exhibit is included at no additional charge. The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum is at 441 Freedom Parkway in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.jimmycarter library.gov or call 404-865-7100.
Black history hike at Sweetwater Nature lovers and history buffs can satisfy both of their passions on a four-mile Black History Month Hike at Sweetwater Creek on Feb. 4. The easy to moderate hike is sponsored by Hartfield’s Hikers and will include a tour of the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Co. textile mill that was built by slaves. They also will get a history lesson from Park Ranger Don Scarbough. Hikers will wind through several lovely stream coves, pass by a stretch of the whitewater rapids, and follow the ridges overlooking Sweetwater Creek. The textile mill, which stood five stories high, the tallest in Atlanta at the time,
was one of the largest factories in Georgia. It was built by enslaved Africans more than 150 years ago. Slaves also made the bricks that were used in its construction. The mill was destroyed in 1864 by Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s troops. The hike is limited to 25 people. Eat a healthy breakfast and wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots and comfortable layered, clothing. Bring water, snacks and lunch. The hike starts promptly at 8 a.m. Hikers will meet in the IHOP parking lot, 970 Thornton Road in Lithia Springs. For more information, e-mail carolyn@ hartfieldshikers.com or visit http://events. r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oei dk=a07e5h4f5tk2b098314&llr=sfsl4obab.
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“We hope to empower a new generation through a look back at some of our nation’s most important leaders.”
Romare Bearden to be celebrated at Macy’s Lenox Square Romare Howard Bearden, the incomparable artist, writer and musician, is being celebrated this month with an exhibit of his works at Macy’s during the centennial anniversary of his birthday. The local celebration kicks off at Macy’s Lenox Square on Feb. 9 with a 6 p.m. reception on the Second Floor in Readyto-Wear. It is being held in conjunction with the Romare Bearden FounRomare Bearden dation. It includes special Macy’s discounts and gift cards; complimentary makeovers by Fashion Fair; the opportunity to get a printed scarf featuring Bearden’s most revered work, “The Lamp” with purchase; and a chance to win an expense-paid trip for two to Paris, Bearden’s beloved city and the inspiration for his work on the project “Paris Blues Revisited.” Bearden was born in 1911. He died in 1988 at the age of 77. The exhibit, which runs through Feb. 12, will showcase Bearden’s work donated by Jerry Thomas Arts. Bearden’s life was marked by the pursuit of art in all of its forms. His work encompassed art, music, design, history and literature. During his lifetime, he experimented with many different mediums and artistic styles but is best known for his richly textured collages. His diverse interests included costume and set design for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Nanette Bearden’s Contemporary Dance Theatre; music composition; and literary work such as his famed children’s book, “Li’l Dan, The Drummer Boy: A Civil War Story.”
“The Family” from “An American Portrait, 17761976” is a color photo-etching and aquatint on paper. Romare Bearden is best known for his richly textured collages.
Macy’s Lenox Square is among 11 stores nationwide celebrating Bearden during Black History Month. The observance spotlights Bearden’s work through special exhibitions featuring watercolors, prints, oil on paper, and dramatic black and white photostats that date from 1964 to 1984, when he was at the peak of his artistic power. The satellite exhibits will showcase some rarely displayed works loaned by private collectors in addition to works on loan from local galleries. Dineen Garcia, Macy’s vice president of Diversity Strategies, said the department store is thrilled to partner with the Romare Bearden Foundation to celebrate the life and legacy of the prolific creator. “We hope to empower a new generation through a look back at some of our nation’s most important leaders,” Garcia said.
“Throughout his life, Romare Bearden brought his exceptional talents to a wide range of interests, cementing his unique place in history and blazing a trail for those who followed.” Romare Bearden Foundation co-directors Johanne Bryant Reid and Diedra Harris Kelley said the centennial celebration provides “a wonderful opportunity to promote to a wider audience the accomplishments of Bearden and his gifts to society.” “Through our traveling shows, archives and publications, we aim to make Bearden’s artistic legacy accessible to all.” The foundation was established in 1990 as a nonprofit by Bearden’s estate to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of the pre-eminent American artist. The exhibits at Macy’s will be supplemented by works from artists influenced
and inspired by Bearden. Opening receptions will further spotlight his artistic endeavors including music, highlighted by performances from a new generation of jazz musicians playing his compositions, which have been previously recorded by masters including Branford Marsalis, Tito Puente and Billy Eckstine. Artist Cathy Ann will create art to the sounds of a live jazz band. Additional in-store celebrations will include children’s collage-making events and special readings of Bearden’s children’s book, “Li’l Dan, The Drummer Boy” as well as cooking demonstrations from local chefs featuring Bearden’s favorite recipes and Caribbean dishes from the out-of-print cookbook, “Ma Chance’s French Caribbean Creole Cooking,” which he illustrated. At the opening receptions, customers will have the opportunity to receive a 15 percent off community shopping pass and a $10 Macy’s gift card. They also can enjoy complimentary makeovers by Fashion Fair. With a purchase of $50 or more, while supplies last, customers can receive a printed scarf featuring Bearden’s most revered work, “The Lamp.” Through Feb. 23, Macy’s also will offer the opportunity to enter for the chance to win a trip for two to Paris, Bearden’s beloved city and the inspiration for his work on the project “Paris Blues Revisited.” The trip is courtesy of American Airlines, which is Macy’s Black History Month celebration partner. It includes round-trip coach air travel, hotel and a $500 Macy’s shopping spree. Macy’s Lenox Square is at 3393 Peachtree Road N.E. in Atlanta. For more information, visit www. beardenfoundation.org. For prize trip entry rules, visit www.macys.com/celebrate.
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CrossRoadsNews
February 4, 2012
The 54-mile trek from Selma to Montgomery will support voting rights and highlight continuing efforts to suppress the right to vote.
Sharpton, activists to march from Selma to Montgomery to co Turning point for civil rights n March 1965 marked a pivotal time for the U.S. civil rights movement, when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led demonstrators to protest discrimination against blacks in Alabama who had been denied the right to vote. n The march from Selma to the state capital in Montgomery began three times before the demonstrators were finally able to finish it. The first attempt took place March 7, 1965, when 600 demonstrators were attacked by state and local police with batons and tear gas as they reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. n Seventeen protesters, including John Lewis, who is now the U.S. representative for Georgia’s 5th Congressional District, were injured. Lewis was whacked on the head and still bears the scars of the attack. Because of the brutality of the police, which was televised nationally, the day became known as “Bloody Sunday.” n The second march on March 9, 1965, was halted by a restraining order issued by a federal district court judge that barred 2,500 protesters who had crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge from going any farther. n The third march got the go-ahead on March 16, when the restraining order was lifted after a judge, citing the marchers’ First Amendment right to protest anywhere, including Alabama, ruled in favor of the marchers. They started March 21 and walked an average of 10 miles a day on their 54-mile trek. The National Guard and the FBI looked on as the march proceeded to Montgomery. On March 25, about 25,000 people marched to the steps of the Alabama State Capitol Building in Montgomery where King delivered the speech “How Long, Not Long.”
Thousands of people will be Selma bound on March 4 for the 2012 commemoration of the 46th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday.” The Rev. Al Sharpton said this year’s march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge will be five days like the historic 1965 Selma-toMontgomery Voting Rights March. The 54-mile trek from Selma to Montgomery will support voting rights and highlight the continuing efforts to suppress the right to vote nationwide. On his weekly appearance on “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” on Kiss 104.1 this week, Sharpton said that a growing number of states have implemented voter identification laws and other moves
A hand like this.
It took a skillful hand like this to draft the plans of our nation’s capital city. It was a visionary hand like this which pointed out the moral superiority of a way based on character and not color. It was a thorough, good hand like this that championed our rights before the U.S. Supreme Court. It took millions of laboring hands like this to build the wealth and infrastructure of this mighty country. And it was a raised hand like this that was sworn in and gave kids of all complexions and cultures the legitimacy to believe they can achieve anything. During Black History Month, Georgia Power takes pride in celebrating the countless hands like this which have worked to uplift us all. We’ve got to hand it to you.
GEORGIAPOWER.COM
that will make it difficult and discourage people from voting. The march also will protest reverse anti-immigration laws in the state of Alabama. Sharpton invited the public to join civil rights activists and supporters for the entire five-day march or on the day that is convenient for them. “You can come for the start or at the end or in between,” he said, adding that marchers will walk 10 miles a day like the marchers did in 1965. Sharpton, who is founder and president of the National
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Sharpton will lead a March 27 rally at the Supreme Court as arguments are heard on Obama’s health care plan.
ommemorate ‘Bloody Sunday’ in 1965
March on Selma by the Numbers
600 Number of marchers who made the first attempt to march on March 7, 1965
3 Number of times marchers tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge to Montgomery, Ala., in 1965
54 Number of miles the marchers trekked from Selma to Montgomery
2,500 U.S. Rep. John Lewis (center in photo at left) was severely beaten by state and local police on “Bloody Sunday” while crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in March 1965 in Selma, Ala.
Action Network, said the march will begin at the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 4 and culminate with a huge rally at the Alabama State Capitol on March 9. He said that it would be hypocritical to celebrate the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and allow states to undermine voter rights. “It is important [to] not just remember what Dr. King and others did in 1965 with the Voting Rights Act that came as a result of the Selma-to-Montgomery march,” he said. “We must preserve it against Voter ID laws and the early voting and voter suppression attempts that are taking
place today. “Therefore on March 4, we will gather in Selma, Ala., and march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and march again to Montgomery, Ala., against Voter ID and voter suppression laws culminating with a huge rally that Friday.” From Alabama, Sharpton and the National Action Network will lead a March 27 rally at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington as arguments are heard on President Barack Obama’s health care plan. Sharpton said that the effort to make the Health Care Act unconstitutional is also a challenge to federal government superseding state government and protecting its citizens. “We will demand in the name of Dr. King that we stop those that engage in interposing federal law with state law and nullifying federal rights to protect its citizens,” he said.
Number of marchers halted by a federal restraining order on March 9, 1965
25,000 The size of the crowd that arrived at the Alabama State Capitol on March 25, 1965
4 The March date for the start of the 2012 commemorative Selmato-Montgomery March
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CrossRoadsNews
February 4, 2012
By the time of his death, he commanded a business empire encompassing magazines, cosmetics, radio stations and more.
Film, book signing for Carter Center Black History Program A documentary about slave routes and a book signing by the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery are among the Black History Month offerings at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. “Slave Routes: A Global Vision” will be screened Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. in the library and museum theater. Lowery, who got the Presidential Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama in 2009, will sign copies of his book, “Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land,” on Feb. 27. The documentary, which was produced by UNESCO, highlights the African presence across continents – the significant contributions of the African diaspora in the arts, religion, knowledge, gastronomy, agriculture, behavior and linguistics. It moves beyond the trauma of slavery and emphasizes slave resistance and resilience in surviving such a dehumanizing system. A panel discussion will follow the screening. On Feb. 27, Lowery, 90, will sign copies of “Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land,” his first book, at 7 p.m. in the theater. The program also will include an interview by Councilman Michael Julian Bond. The book, which was published in February 2011, is a collection of Lowery’s speeches, sermons, remarks, poems and commentaries, starting with the Montgomery bus boycott, a watershed moment in the civil rights movement and in his life. Since then, Lowery, a native of Huntsville, Ala., who was born on Oct. 6, 1921, has spent his life fighting for civil rights and the environment and against poverty and the death penalty. When he made his entrance onto the na-
“Slave Routes: A Global Vision,” being screened on Feb. 23 at the Carter Library and Museum, highlights the contributions of the African diaspora. The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, the “dean” of the civil rights movement, will talk about his life and sign copies of his book on Feb. 27 at the Carter complex.
tional civil rights stage, Lowery was a pastor in Mobile, Ala. The NAACP had been outlawed there, and a woman named Rosa Parks had set off a statewide controversy by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery. Lowery, who had been an activist and a minister, found himself in meetings with a
younger pastor from Montgomery – Martin Luther King Jr. “We became friends and were friends until his death,” Lowery says. During the 1960s civil rights movement, Lowery was a chief organizer of the Selmato-Montgomery marches in 1965 that led to passage of the Voting Rights Act. He helped create the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference with King and the Revs. Fred Shuttlesworth and Ralph David Abernathy. With Shuttlesworth’s death last year, he is the last of the four. In “Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land,” Lowery shares the stories that shaped his life as the “dean” of the civil rights movement. The book chronicles his journey from early civil rights activist to offering the benediction at the inauguration of Obama. It features his most enduring speeches and messages from the past 50 years, including his speech at Coretta Scott King’s funeral. In the book, Lowery, a retired senior pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church, also pays homage to other legends of the movement. The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum is at 441 Freedom Parkway in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.jimmy carterlibrary.gov or call 404-865-7100.
Black Heritage stamp honors legendary publisher John H. Johnson Publishing legend John H. Johnson has been honored with a commemorative Black Heritage stamp by the U.S. Postal Service. Johnson, founder of Chicago-based Johnson Publishing Co., which publishes Ebony and Jet magazines, is the 35th honoree in the Black Heritage stamp series. Past honorees in the series, which debuted in 1978, include the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, cosmetics legend Madam C.J. Walker and former U.S. Rep. Barbara Jordan. Anthony Vaughan, USPS Chicago senior plant manager, said in a statement announcing the Jan. 31 release of the stamp that Johnson’s “unyielding commitment to journalistic excellence and his unparalleled reporting on African-American culture have distinguished him as one of America’s greatest publishers.” A dedication ceremony was held Tuesday at Johnson Publishing Co. offices with Johnson’s daughter, Linda Johnson Rice, who is the company’s chairwoman; Desiree Rogers, CEO; Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel; former Mayor Richard M. Daley; Illinois Rep. Danny Davis; and the Rev. James Meeks of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. Johnson Rice said she was immensely proud that her father and his life’s passion were being recognized with a Black Heritage stamp. “His legacy lives on in all whom he touched and in the work we continue to do daily,” she said. Johnson was born in 1918 in Arkansas City, Ark., a segregated town that had no high schools for black students. By the time
ing the NAACP’s prestigious Spingarn Medal in 1966 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996. In 2003, a panel of experts polled by Baylor University named Johnson the greatest minority entrepreneur in American history. The stamp will be availC.J. Walker Martin L. King Jr. Thurgood Marshall able at post offices nationing them to use black models in their ads wide or can be ordered at 1-800-782-6724 or usps.com. were major breakthroughs. News services contributed to this report. Johnson won numerous awards, includ-
“From Whence We Came” A BLACK HISTORY MONTH DRAMA
of his death in 2005 at age 87, he commanded a business empire encompassing magazines, cosmetics, radio stations, book publishing and more and was the first black person on Forbes magazine’s annual list of the 400 wealthiest people in America in 1982. His magazines highlighted black accomplishments, which were rarely shown in mainstream media. In 1946, the year after it was founded, Ebony landed its first national advertising account. Selling advertising space to white-owned corporations and persuad-
Transforming Lives celebrates black music Transforming Lives International Christian Church will observe Black History Month with “A Celebration of Black Music” on Feb. 26 in Atlanta. The program begins at 10 a.m.
The program will be held at the Sheraton Gateway Atlanta Airport, 1900 Sullivan Road. For more information, call Melonie Hill, Black History Program chair, at 404808-7034.
Presented by the Golden Years Drama Troupe of the South DeKalb Senior Center For Tickets & More Information Contact Louise Gipson at lsims1934@gmail.com or call 404-202-2037
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Black History
In 1936, Thurman led the first African-American delegation to meet with Mahatma Gandhi.
Black History Month Parade to honor culture, achievements High school bands along with community, civic and business groups will march through the Historic Sweet Auburn District of Atlanta for the first Black History Month Parade on Feb. 25. The 2-to-4:30 p.m. parade, which is hosted by the Sweet Auburn Area Coalition, will celebrate the culture, heritage, his- John Lewis tory and accomplishments of black Americans in the United States and worldwide. The Greenforest Academy Marching Band from Decatur, performers from the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, 5th District U.S. Rep. John Lewis, and former 4th District Cynthia McKinney U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney will be among the marching bands, entertainers, dignitaries, civic groups, and celebrities expected to participate. There also will be entertainment and fun for the whole family. A post-parade festival will feature live entertainers, comedians, food, beverages, art and family-oriented programs. Parking and admission are free. T:7.5” For more information and sponsorship opportuPerformers from the Tupac Amaru Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain will participate in the Black History Month Parade on Feb. 25. nities, visit www.blackhistorymonthparade.com.
First Afrikan to study writings of King’s mentor
Benjamin Todd Jealous NAACP CEO
Cathy Hughes Entrepreneur
Hank Thomas McDonald’s Owner-Operator
Mary J. Blige Performing Artist
Ruby Dee Activist
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When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was leading the 1960s civil rights movement, he didn’t do it alone. In addition to colleagues, foot soldiers and supporters, he had mentors to whom he turned for direction. One of them was the Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman, who also guided and mentored other civil Howard Thurman rights leaders. To honor King’s life and legacy, members of First Afrikan Presbyterian Church in Lithonia will study the writings of Thurman, compiled in his book, “Disciplines of the Spirit,” during their February Wednesday Bible study. Thurman, who was born in 1899 and died on April 10, 1981, was an influential American author, philosopher, theologian, educator and civil rights leader. He was dean of theology and the chapels at Howard University and Boston University for more than two decades. He wrote 21 books, including “Jesus and the Disinherited” and “The Inward Journey.” In 1944, Thurman co-founded the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, the United States’ first multicultural interfaith congregation, in San Francisco. Thurman’s work speaks directly to today’s personal and social issues, highlighting the powerful connection between spirituality and social transformation. In 1936, Thurman led the first AfricanAmerican delegation to meet with Mahatma Gandhi and became an advocate of Gandhi’s methods of nonviolent social change, inspiring many in the American struggle for civil rights, justice and freedom. Ebony magazine named Thurman among the 50 most important figures in African-American history, and Life magazine hailed him as one of the greatest preachers in the nation. The Bible study starts at 7 p.m. The theme is “To Be Afrikan, Who Am I, What Do I Want for My Life, Really?” First Afrikan Church is at 5197 Salem Road in Lithonia. For more information, visit firstafrikanchurch.org or call 770-9812601.
Making a Difference by Paving a Way.
There are those who give back not just during the month of February, but every month. McDonald’s Annual 365Black® Awards honors them. Those who, every day, continue to make a difference in the community. Because no matter how much they have achieved, they still find the time to give back. Read more about our honorees at ©2012 McDonald’s
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February 4, 2012
Macy’s Lenox Square Mall 9th-12th February 9
In honor of Black History Month, Macy’s and The Romare Bearden Foundation
The Lamp, c.1984 Lithograph, commissioned, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision ending official segregation in public education
Art © Romare Bearden Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, NY
MACY’S CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
celebrate the 100th birthday of the African-American artist, innovator, scholar and visionary Romare Bearden. Join us at Macy’s Lenox Square Mall for an exciting and inspiring event as we showcase Romare’s artwork, on loan from Jerry Thomas Arts, and celebrate his legacy with live music. Plus, with any purchase of $50 or more, you will receive a complimentary scarf printed with Romare Bearden’s most revered work, The Lamp. Visit macys.com/celebrate for details.
All events and information subject to change or cancellation without notice
Enter* for your chance to win a trip for two to Paris, Romare Bearden’s beloved city and inspiration for his work on the project Paris Blues Revisited. Prize includes Coach Class Air Transportation for two (2) to Paris, France and hotel accommodations provided by American Airlines, plus a $500 Shopping Spree. American Airlines is a proud partner of Macy’s Black History Month Celebration. *No purchase necessary. For official rules and details visit macys.com/events. 36919_N2010289A.indd 1
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