Elected officials, guest speakers, city stakeholders and neighboring city leaders get together to celebrate the Black History Month ceremony in Chicopee.
Reminder Publishing photos by Tyler Garnet
CHICOPEE — The Chicopee Cultural Council hosted its fourth annual Black History Month ceremony on Feb. 6, which included performances, a panel of speakers and a flag raising ceremony.
This year’s ceremony coincides with a century of national commemorations of Black history. Carter G. Woodson initiated the concept of Black history observance 100 years ago.
He founded Negro History Week in 1926 to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and former President Abraham Lincoln. Negro History Week gathered momentum for decades before the observance and teaching of Black Americans became a cultural fixture following its expansion to Black History Month in February 1976 during President Gerald Ford’s administration.
Ayanna Crawford, a Western Massachusetts multi-hyphenate, spearheaded the program after Mayor John Vieau opened the event with his own remarks.
“We are gathered here today, not only to honor the rich history and the enduring legacy of Black community, but we are here to celebrate the vibrant leadership and talent that continues to shape our region,” Crawford stated.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
After musical performances from the Chicopee Comprehensive High School Choir, each speaker shared what Black History Month means to them and the importance of recognizing the past while building for the future.
Speakers included Chicopee Public School Superintendent Marcus Ware, Springfield City Councilor At-Large Justin Hurst, Elms College President Harry Dumay, Holyoke Community College President George Timmons, Springfield College Student Affairs Vice President Dr. Slandie Dieujuste and Springfield Technical Community College Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Kiyota Garcia.
Hurst, who mentioned he has declined attending flag raisings and other cultural ceremonies for the past few years out of principle, explained, “Too often these moments are performative rather than substant. They often serve as symbolic gestures without a sustained commitment, honesty or accountability that real inclusion requires. However, after much thought, as you can see, and multiple requests, I decided to attend today’s ceremony. I chose to come before you today because I am cautiously optimistic about Chicopee, and I make that choice with a clear understanding of the moment we are living in as a country. History warns us about the danger of silence.”
Dieujuste shared that she came to the country from Haiti when she was nine years old, and shared that history changed her life.
“Our contributions are too great to be limited to one month,” Dieujuste said. “Black history’s too rich, too deep, too complex to be constrained to one month, so every month is Black History Month. I need you to understand Black history is life-changing history.”
Dieujuste said that if “you listen to the national rhetoric on immigration, it will have you believe that Haitians and immigrants are a nuisance to America’s society, but we know better.”
She continued, “I have to say thank you for recognizing the importance of continuing to celebrate Black history. A history that is under fierce attack, so celebrations like this one help us combat the negative and the destructive narratives that we have been subjected to,” she stated.
Timmons, who talked about his path to get where he is today, shared the importance of hard work, a strong work ethic and the value of education. He stated, “Once you have an education, no one can take that away from you. With that responsibility comes power. Understand that education is the clearest pathway, the most reliable, successful pathway to the middle class or better.”
After the speakers, the Chicopee Cultural Council recognized two honorees, Chicopee resident and The Kidney Advocate LLC founder and CEO Artise Carr, as well as Erns Rinvil, known for his tireless work as an organizer for the Toys for Tots in Chicopee.
Vieau officially read the proclamation, and the African American flag was draped in City Hall to recognize Black History Month in the city of Chicopee.
“The word that’s been said throughout many of these different speakers’ keynotes; inclusion, and that’s what it’s about today, inclusion. The city recognizes the diversity of this amazing, amazing, wonderful place that we call home, and I am thankful for all you joining us today.”
The Chicopee High School choir concluded the program with a musical performance before food was provided to guests.
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