By CARMEN S. NIEVES with DIANE S. WILLIAMS,
GREGORY N. HEIRES and MOLLY CHARBONEAU.

DC 37 celebrated its 20th annual Black History Month in February with the unprecedented participation of more than 6,000 members and family members in a multimedia banquet of cultural, historical, and political programs, the traditional Family Day and an African-style bazaar with 40 vendors. The events were presented by 15 locals, the Women’s and Political Action committees and the DC 37 Black History Month Committee.

“These twenty years of Black History Month at DC 37 have brought together members of all races as few events have,” said Committee Cochair Sherwyn Britton, the director of DC 37’s White Collar Division. This year’s celebration came at a crucial point for DC 37, as it fights for better wages and working conditions in current contract negotiations and prepares to play a decisive role in electing major city officials this fall, she added.

Cochair Cynthia Marshall, associate administrator of the DC 37 Health and Security Plan, praised the father of Black History Month, Dr. Carter Woodson, who initiated the celebration in 1926. “He knew that with knowledge of its history, a people will not be held down,” she said.

The son of former slaves, Dr. Woodson had little early education, but in 1912 he received a doctorate in history from Harvard University. He chose February in honor of the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln on the 12th and of abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass on the 14th. By the 1990s, Negro History Day had become Black History Month nationwide. At DC 37, the first Black History Day 20 years ago also grew into today’s month-long celebration as locals formed committees and held their own events each year.

All month, the treasure chest of African American history was held up like a newborn to the ancestors. 

On Opening Night Feb. 1, co-sponsored by Local 1597, DC 37 Administrator Lee Saunders said Black History is the story of a strong family that looks after its members. “We, too, work to make the future better for those who follow us,” he said. Later that evening, Local 154’s “Millennium Women” event helped set a tone of pride, reflection and celebration for the month.

World-renowned West African drummer Babatunde Olatunji, who performed at Local 371’s event Feb. 2., is a symbol of the survival of the African spirit. And on Feb. 3, the African-style storyteller Momma Sandi transfixed the Family Day audience of children and adults with tales from the motherland.

On Feb. 6, Local 983 members heard from Roger Toussaint, the president of TWU Local 100. Local President Mark Rosenthal said the local’s African American, white, Asian and Latino membership reflects “the mosaic that is DC 37.” On Feb. 7, Local 2627 presented, “Men of Honor,” a film based on the true story of Carl Brashear, the first black man in the U.S. Navy deep-sea diving team. Local President Ed Hysyk proclaimed the contributions of African Americans in the armed forces.

City Council member and former SSEU Local 371 President Mary Pinkett, who is sponsoring vital legislation for retirees, keynoted the Political Action Committee’s Feb. 8 event, which also included choir, band and dance presentations.

At its Feb. 9 celebration, Local 372 honored three of its pioneers who started their union-building work as long as 50 years ago — Alma Williams, Adele Nobles and Patricia Caldwell. “Every year at this time we stop to reflect, celebrate and pay tribute to our own black history, to those who built a legacy for us,” Local 372 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa explained.
At the Local 768 event on Feb. 10, a fashion show displayed the colors of the African, Afro-Caribbean and African American spectrum. President Helen Greene introduced Carrie Miller, whose mesmerizing oration told how the sounds of Africa gave rise to unique American musical art forms like jazz, tap, bebop and hip-hop.

The “Dance for Joy Ministries” danced their hearts out Feb. 12 for Local 1407. The next evening, dancers, choirs, a fashion show and a steel band entertained Local 1549 members, and former DC 37 Associate Director Lillian Roberts urged them to build their power by getting every member registered to vote.

For the DC 37 Women’s Committee on Feb. 15, the strains of “Killer Joe” by the Bernard Brim Band launched a jazz tribute to 20 years of “Changing Generations.” Musical history also greeted Local 1070 members, as saxophonist and bandleader Rene McClean honored the greats from Eubie Blake to Stevie Wonder, and on Feb. 20 Local 957 members joined reggae artist Jah Paul in a performance. Local 375’s 14th celebration on Feb. 21 featured a talk on the union’s history by James Parker, now retired after 40 years of activism.

At Local 1655’s Feb. 22 event, President Donald Afflick spoke on the historical role of African Americans. “We built this county and gave it its soul,” he said. Cuisine from the African Diaspora – from Senegal to the Caribbean and America’s South to Harlem – gave members a taste of the soul of Africa.
At the Finale on Feb. 23, Lee Saunders told political candidates that if they want to run, they have to come through DC 37’s “lean green election machine!”

Local 1320 President James Tucciarelli advised his members that their event, held Feb. 26, was after the official finale. “We like to do things differently, but we have things we all agree on, like the diversity in this great union.”