Brookhaven celebrates Black History Month
Brookhaven, GA, Feb. 15, 2024 – Brookhaven’s annual Black History Month celebration is underway.
Black History Month first originated as part of an initiative by writer and educator Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who launched Negro History Week in 1926. Woodson proclaimed that Negro History Week should always occur in the second week of February — between the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
Since 1976, every American president has proclaimed February as Black History Month. Today, other countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom also devote an entire month to celebrating Black history.
Each year beginning on Feb. 1, an entire month of events are planned nationwide honoring the history and contributions of African Americans. The theme for 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts” which focuses on the arts infused with African, Caribbean, and the Black American lived experiences. (https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/)
One of the highlights of Brookhaven’s Black History Month celebration is an art exhibit featuring the work of Turiya Clark in different parts of the City. Starting on Feb.17, her artwork will be displayed in City Hall, Explore Brookhaven, and the Lynwood Park Community Center. Turiya Clark’s upbringing in Lynwood Park shaped her lived experience and her artistic vision. In Sept. 2023, she brought to life the Windsor-Osborne Crosswalk with her art, commemorating the unique heritage of the Lynwood Park Community.
In addition to the art exhibit, Brookhaven is coordinating a special visit with Cross Keys High School students to the historic Lynwood Park. This visit is designed to educate and engage the younger generation in the significant historic relevance of Lynwood Park. Lynwood Park was established in the early 1930’s and was the first predominantly Black subdivision in DeKalb County. Residents throughout the following years suffered discrimination and segregation. In 1968, students of the school, known as the Lynwood Trailblazers, bravely entered the previously segregated DeKalb County School System.
Follow and stay tuned to Brookhaven’s social media at @BrookhavenGagov and @CiudadDeBrookhaven. We will be posting all month, supporting Black-owned restaurants in Brookhaven, interviewing leaders in our community, and highlighting all the ways we are celebrating Black History Month.
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