Ayanna Crawford talks to the audience during the Black History Month celebration and observance in Chicopee.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
CHICOPEE — Even on the rainy and snowy morning, many gathered in Chicopee City Hall to observe Black History Month with a flag raising ceremony on Feb. 13.
With Mayor John Vieau absent due to feeling under the weather, Chicopee Public Schools Superintendent Marcus Ware led the event and read the proclamation on Vieau’s behalf.
“Acknowledging Black History Month remains essential because it honors the achievements, struggles and contributions of Black individuals who have shaped history despite systemic barriers,” Ware said.
Deacon Badette “Lady Bug” Lanier opened the ceremony with a blessing.
The event featured multiple speakers from elected officials to residents to other businesses who all spoke about the importance of recognizing Black History Month.
State Rep. Shirley Arriaga (D-Chicopee) shared that although there are a lot of unknowns happening in the news recently, she likes to reflect more on optimism.
“I like to reflect more on optimism. That’s how I live my life, and I think just a little more optimism in the world, things could be that much better. If we focus on all the negative stuff, it could get dark, it could get dark quickly,” she said.
Arriaga did mention that although it is only the middle of February, the world is mad, wild and scary right now causing for an anxious time for many.
“I believe that people should be treated equally regardless of who they are and where they’re from, the color of their skin and their financial bank accounts. I don’t care if you have $5 to your pocket, I don’t care if you have $1 million in your pocket, I don’t care if you were born in the U.S. or if you originated from a different country which many of us have. That’s why we came here to the U.S. — we came here for a better life. Unfortunately, people do treat others differently that do not look like us and guess what, if you look around this room, we all look different and that doesn’t mean people are less than. If nothing else, let’s treat people with respect, love and kindness.”
State Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) echoed the words of his colleague Arriaga, but added it’s important to look at the history of Black History Month and the origins of why it is in February.
Other speakers included Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Community Engagement Coordinator Nia Johnson, state Rep. Orlando Ramos’ Chief of Staff Ayanna Crawford, Al Kendall from the Chicopee Disability Commission, Erns Rinvil and Community Legal Aid for Western Massachusetts Pro Bono Coordinator Choyce McIntosh-Rodriquez all spoke on the work them and their organizations are doing to make a difference. Crawford said, “I bring greetings of course from Representative Orlando Ramos and also from myself. I believe that we are here for a reason and a season and a time. We are here to celebrate folks that have come here not by their selves but they were forced. I think what we need to start thinking about is why do we celebrate Black History Month.”
Crawford gave a quick lesson on Carter G. Woodson and why he decided to create this opportunity.
Carter G. Woodson initiated the concept of Black history observance 99 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 continued gathering 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 Gerald Ford’s administration.
Oliveira also explained, “When you look at the history of the United States, our original sin, the sin that continues to be a knock on us is slavery; brining people against their will from Africa, from the Caribbean, from other indigenous groups and bringing them to this country to work in our fields without the benefit of having any type of worker protection, any type of compensation for their work, that is our original sin as a country.”
Oliveira stated that despite the rhetoric that is going on in the nation’s capital right now, Chicopee, Western Massachusetts and the commonwealth of Massachusetts, “we celebrate diversity, we celebrate acceptation, we celebrate inclusion and that’s what this month is all about.”
Chicopee High School chorus performed two songs that produced a standing ovation from the entire crowd.
Ware officially read the proclamation, and the African American flag was draped in City Hall to recognize Black History Month in the city of Chicopee.
