Press Release

State Agencies Announce Black History Month Event

Published on 2/25/2008

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications Transportation and Safety

HARRISBURG – The seven commonwealth agencies sponsoring ”Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism,” the Black History Month celebration, will have a reception and media opportunity on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the lobby of The State Museum. State Cabinet members will speak at 5:15 p.m. to announce the Feb. 28 event, which takes place at noon at the Forum. Thursday’s event featuring “The STUART SISTERS,” a performance group from Philadelphia, will embark upon a theatrical journey of drama, dance, and song in a chronology of African American history and contributions to America.

The sponsoring agencies are the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of State, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of General Services and the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs will be co-sponsoring the Black History Month Tribute. 

About Carter G. Woodson

Among those intellectuals of the Progressive era, Carter G. Woodson did most to forge an intellectual movement to educate Americans about cultural diversity and democracy.  For the sake of African Americans and all Americans, Woodson heralded the contributions of African Americans and the black tradition.  In 1915, he established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and by the time of his death in 1950, he had laid the foundation for a rethinking of American identity.  The multiculturalism of our times is built on the intellectual and institutional labors of Woodson. He should be known not simply as the Father of Black History, but as a pioneer of multiculturalism as well.

EVENT:                     Seven state agencies are presenting “Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism,” the Black History Month celebration that will occur during two days in February. 

DATES/TIMES:        Reception and Media Event:  Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008 at 4:30-7:00 p.m., State Museum Lobby, Harrisburg

Black History Month Tribute: Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, The Forum, Harrisburg

11:30 a.m. - Pre-program entertainment for school children

Noon -1 p.m., Main Event featuring “The Stuart Sisters” (FREE TO PUBLIC; state employees and school children will attend)

Contact:

• Director of Communications
  Pennsylvania Department of State
  717-783-1621