22-02-2025
Performing groups, local leaders add 'spark' to Black History Month celebration
The past, present and future contributions of Black county residents were cause for celebration on Thursday at the Frederick County government's third annual Black History Month program.
The county's event took place against a backdrop of a national policy shift with respect to diversity, equity and inclusion — a fact County Executive Jessica Fitzwater acknowledged in her prepared remarks.
'Unlike what we are seeing from some of our federal agencies, Black History Month is not cancelled here in Frederick County,' Fitzwater said, referring to recent decisions by the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Defense to stop observing cultural awareness days or months.
'Celebrating our communities — especially so many that have historically and often intentionally been left out of the spotlight — is an easy decision for Frederick County government,' she said.
Elected officials, youth leaders, performing arts groups and representatives of nonprofit organizations all played a role in Thursday's program, which took place at Winchester Hall.
The evening opened with musical performances by the Frederick County Mass Choir of both 'The Star-Spangled Banner' and 'Lift Every Voice and Sing.'
Often referred to as the Black national anthem, 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' is adapted from a 1900 poem written by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson and was used as a protest song during the American Civil Rights Movement. Many in the audience on Thursday raised their hands or swayed in time with the song.
Rhonda Tessier, the co-president of Friends of Catoctin Furnace, gave a presentation about the enslaved and free Black people who worked in often dangerous conditions at the historic iron furnace near Thurmont.
County Council Vice President Kavonté Duckett — who in 2022 became the first African American elected to a Frederick County government office — gave a speech honoring pillars of Frederick's Black community such as Gary and Denise Rollins of the Rollins Life Celebration Center, and Darren Sheffield of the MIDAR companies.
'Their success stories and so many others are a testament to the resilience, strength and entrepreneurial spirit that continues to drive our economy forward,' Duckett said.
Three members of the Frederick Youth Council showed a video they produced that explores historic landmarks in the city of Frederick, such as the historically Black Asbury United Methodist Church and the Mountain City Elks Lodge, which from 1919 to 1928 was the site of a 15-bed hospital for African Americans.
Sonja Brown-Jenkins, who serves on the board of directors for the African American Resources Cultural and Heritage (AARCH) Society, spoke about the organization's work preserving and promoting Black culture in Frederick County.
The organization's work includes providing walking tours of the All Saints Street area — once known as the Black hub of Frederick County — and curating the future African American Heritage Center, which will have its groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, Brown-Jenkins said.
Choreographed numbers from the Walkersville High School step group and a Leading Edge Academy of Dance team rounded out the Black History Month program Thursday evening.
In an interview after the event, Trish Kitcher, co-captain of the Walkersville Step Group, said the group became an official organization last year, but has been together unofficially since 2022.
Suri Kang, another co-captain, said the group sees step as both an expression of Black culture and a way to engage other minority student groups at Walkersville High School, adding that they 'bring a spark' to the community.
Lakisha Wade, the city of Frederick's manager of equity and inclusion, came to Thursday's event as part of the mayor's contingent, but said she likely would have attended either way.
In an interview, Wade said she appreciated the organizers placing equal emphasis on the historical and cultural elements of the event.
'A lot of times people are used to performances,' she said. 'But I'm glad they took the time to place great meaning and respect on the history.'
