Meet one of the newest members of our Board, Lugene Keys. Lugene brings 30 years of public involvement and communications experience, and she’s here to highlight the importance of Black History Month.

The month of February ushers in many things – Valentine’s Day, President’s Day – and since 2020 is a leap year – it even includes an extra day – Saturday, February 29.  But only since 1976 has February been celebrated as Black History Month.

Black History Month means many things to many people, but most importantly, it’s an opportunity to shine a spotlight on a deep and rich cultural history that is diverse, dynamic, and that is held in a timeless high esteem by generations.  It has been said that Black History is American History; that a wise nation honors and learns from its past.

What has happened in the past informs our paths forward – and setting aside some time to revisit our past – even in the form of memories – is more important today than ever – considering that we live in an age when “information overload” is actually a “thing.”

As we enter another important general election, let’s keep in mind that 2020 Black History Month marks the 150^th anniversary of the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) that gave black men the right to vote after the Civil War. Indeed 2020 is a landmark year for voting rights as it also marks the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment and the culmination of the women’s suffrage movement.

There are volumes of information on Black History that have been written – and much that remains to be authored and celebrated since history’s birthplace is actually the present.  Our nation isn’t perfect, and anyone paying attention to the state of affairs today realizes there is much more work that needs to be done for our country to live out its creed that everybody is created equal. That being said – as bystanders we can wait for those stories to be written and retold – or as Americans we can thoughtfully write a few of our own – one word at a time; one act at a time; one touch at a time. The choice is rightfully yours and mine.

– Lugene Keys, Local Government Academy Board Member