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OKLAHOMA CAPITOL --- Fifteen years ago a group of 50 people gathered for the first State Black Heritage Celebration. Today it is the largest state-sponsored Black History Month event in Oklahoma, but it’s mission is still the same, to educate everyone on the contributions of Black Oklahomans by shining a light on the unsung heroes and unrecognized individuals whose quite contributions have had a major impact on our state and our shared history.
This year’s celebration will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Omniplex, located at 2100 N.E. 52nd St. in Oklahoma City. In honor of the celebration, Gov. Brad Henry has proclaimed Feb. 28, 2003 as Black Heritage Day in Oklahoma.
Scheduled to appear at this year’s event are the Muskogee New Testament Gospel Choir, Classen School of Advanced Studies Black History Club, Northeast Specialty School Drum Group, the Men of Faith Quartet, New Zion Baptist Church Jewels from Heaven, St. Johns Christian Academy, Donna Vaughn, Charles Shelton, Norma Goff and Sen. Angela Monson.
Author, civil rights activist and University of Oklahoma Regents Professor of Human Relations George Henderson, Ph.D., will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Trailblazer Award will be given to Eugene D. Jones and Virgil Chandler, both founding members of the Provisional Committee for Veterans Affairs, a group of Black World War II veterans that worked to gain the civil service jobs that were promised to all veterans.
The Humanitarian Award will go to George Earl Johnson, Jr., Director of Communications for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for his years of service to the United Way, Goodwill, his church and community. Also receiving a Humanitarian Award will be David Brown, Customer Assistant Supervisor for the Oklahoma Tax Commission, for his work with national and community charities.
Admission is free and open to the public; however, donations will be accepted to help continue this annual event. The Oklahoma Tax Commission, Arts Council, Department of Human Services, Historical Society, Department of Civil Emergency Management and the Omniplex sponsor the Annual Black Heritage Celebration.
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