Greater Bangor Area NAACP and Husson University to Host Black History Month Program
Published on: February 6, 2014
BANGOR, MAINE – February 5, 2014 – The Greater Bangor Area NAACP and Husson University will present a Black History Month program and celebration on Sunday, February 9, 2014 at the Gracie Theatre at Husson University. The event is part of a local effort to commemorate the 50th anniversaries of the March on Washington in 1963 and the signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.
“The passage of the Civil Rights Act and the March on Washington were some of the most important moments in the history of the United States during the 20th century,” said Robert Talbot, Vice President of the Greater Bangor Area NAACP. “These efforts, made possible with the leadership of Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led to the reform of voter registration laws and ended legalized racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and at public facilities. In remembering these events, this week’s program serves as a reminder of the importance of social justice and the need to continue the work that began over 50 years ago, to rid our society of bigotry, hate and prejudice.”
The program will feature a panel of Mainers reflecting on the 1963 march and activism in 2014. The invited panel includes the Honorable Gerald Talbot, first African-American elected to the Maine Legislature; activists John and Marisue Pickering, early members of the Greater Bangor Area NAACP; and Professor Douglas Allen, professor of philosophy and former chairperson of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Maine. Former State Representative Herb Adams will serve as moderator, with Q & A to follow the panel discussion.
The event will also feature a screening of the legendary “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. during the March on Washington. This speech is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of stirring political oratory ever delivered by an American.
The Husson University Singers, the Destiny Worship Praise Team, a diverse group of gospel singers from the nondenominational Destiny Worship Center of Brewer, Maine, and Ms. Nancy Dymond, are scheduled to perform. Refreshments will be served at the close of the program.
Anyone interested in attending is welcome to gather at Husson University’s Campus Center at 2:30 p.m. and participate in a commemorative march to the Gracie Theatre, where the program will begin at 3:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The NAACP, a national organization with over 2,000 branches throughout the country, is the nation’s oldest civil rights organization. The organization's mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. There are currently three NAACP branches in Maine, in Bangor, Portland and at the Maine State Prison in Warren. The Greater Bangor Area NAACP, which serves the northern half of Maine, seeks to fulfill its mission locally by drawing attention to racial discrimination in the greater Bangor area, offering guidance and support to people of color in legal and educational matters, sponsoring cultural events, and speaking out against all social injustices.
For more than 100 years, Husson University has prepared future leaders to handle the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson University has come to represent superior value in higher education. Our Bangor campus and off-campus satellite education centers in Southern Maine, Wells and Northern Maine provide advanced knowledge in business; health and education; pharmacy studies, science and humanities; as well as communication. In addition, Husson University has a robust adult learning program. For more information about educational opportunities that can lead to personal and professional success, visit Husson.edu