Black History Month is a time for all Americans to recognize the many achievements that African Americans have contributed to this country. All around the country, various communities erect special monuments and displays in order to pay tribute to the men and women who have made lasting impacts on our nation’s history.
In the past, while the city of Chattanooga has not always taken a leading role in recognizing Black History Month, local institutions have gladly participated in honoring the holiday throughout the month of February.
Due to the pandemic, organizations that would have hosted in-person gatherings for their communities opted for virtual celebrations instead. Though COVID-19 restrictions made the normal celebrations look a bit different this year, local businesses and organizations in Chattanooga adapted and continued to celebrate and participate in Black History Month throughout the month of February.
For example, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center (BSCC), while closed to the public until further notice, hosted its annual art contest virtually and allowed the K-12 participants to submit their art work to be displayed in an online gallery. The theme of the show was “Black History Month: Chattanooga African American History.” The deadline for the event was February 26 and the art from participants will be showcased on their website at a date that has yet to be announced.
The BSCC also released special editions of their series, “Bessie’s Front Porch.” “Bessie’s Front Porch" is a Facebook series in which members of the board of the BSCC and the broader Chattanooga community read children’s literature that focuses on topics including African American history and the experiences of those in the African American community.
According to The Pulse, the H*Art Gallery, a non-profit creative space offering resources and an artistic outlet for the citizens of Chattanooga, recognized Black History Month similarly by displaying the art of several Chattanooga-based artists on their social media platform. The post included work from De Michael McGee, Willie Watkins, Jessica Johnson, Kevin Dowdy, Dennis Williams and Kathleen Williams. The artists featured are members of the H*Art Gallery’s organization and have made valuable contributions to the city of Chattanooga.
For the students of UTC, the Office of Multicultural Affairs was able to hold some in-person, socially-distanced gatherings throughout campus. On February 1, Multicultural Affairs handed out free Black History Month T-shirts to students and hosted a Zoom concert featuring Kofi Mawuko, a Chattanooga-based musician, and the Ogya World Music Band. In addition, the Multicultural Center also held virtual panel discussions every Friday of the month highlighting different prominent African American figures from various decades.
While the pandemic impacted the usual traditions of Chattanooga’s celebration of Black History Month, the community worked together to participate in honoring African Americans by shifting in-person events to online forums.
It is a privilege to celebrate Black History Month and to recognize and honor the people who have influenced and enriched this nation. Hopefully, Chattanooga’s participation in the holiday will continue to grow throughout the coming years.