Celebrate Black History Month

Some years ago, I hosted a Black History Month party.  My guests excitedly revisited the biographies of their most beloved African-American history figures and outfitted themselves in wigs, beards, and waistcoasts, creating the most authentic parade of costumes I have ever seen! For that one night in February, Frederick Douglass, Bessie Coleman, and Thurgood Marshall lived in my dining room.

We sat around the table for hours.  Harriet Tubman regaled us with adventures from the Underground Railroad. Phyllis Wheatley read some of her poetry, and Justice Marshall spoke of his early days on the Supreme Court. Much of it we had heard or read before, but it all sounded new, and we were renewed by the courage and vision of our heroes and heroines.

At the Village, we will spend 12 months looking for and talking about the leaders of this time…the next weavers of this rich cultural tapestry. That means, February is about love for us.  We focus on family with an
article about family reunions.  Dr. Robert Scott returns and poses this question: Are You In Love With God? And we welcome Dr. Robert Simmons, new father and education professor at Loyola University in Washington, D.C. He writes about the importance of loving to learn for his newborn son and all African-American boys.

We hope you fall madly in love with the Village and celebrate Black History like we do…all year.