As another Black History Month draws to a close, take a look at these stories highlighting the city's rich Black history and also the present and future of Black people in Columbus that The Columbus Dispatch staff has told all month and will continue to tell throughout the year.

From Black-owned businesses you should check out to historic communities where Black people found safety in the early 1900s, and lots in between, we've brought you the stories of Black residents in Columbus. Take this journey with us, first with stories about the city's past, its present and then a look at its bright future.

Stories about Columbus' past

A historic Black community nestled on Columbus' Hilltop

Bea Douglas Murphy remembers the neighborhood she grew up in as laid-back, friendly and fun.

Travel back in time with her and her son, Julian Murphy, as well as some local historians, in this story about Burnside Heights, a historic Black settlement that spans a few blocks on Columbus' Hilltop.

Some say Henderson House, slated for demolition, has important history

Dispatch Reporter Mark Ferenchik took readers inside a debate about what will happen to what some say is a historically important house that Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center plans to tear down for its new adult inpatient rehabilitation center.

The Henderson House, built in 1920, is on property once owned by Rutherford B. Hayes, the former president and Ohio governor. Then, a prominent and affluent Black lawyer owned it. Learn more about the house in this story.

The complicated history of sickle cell disease

In this story, Dispatch Reporter Danae King dove into the complicated history of sickle cell disease research — or lack thereof — and how it has impacted the community.

Read the story of one local woman who has sickle cell and more about how research into the disease is increasing after years of lagging behind the amount done for other diseases that impact mostly white people.

Ohio mothers who marched to make a difference

You'll have to venture a little outside Greater Columbus to learn about this group of mothers who marched every day for nearly two years at the start of the civil rights movement.

Black mothers and their children marched to the white school in Hillsboro, Ohio, each day, asking to be granted admission. They were denied for months.

But, their marching — and the subsequent court case five of the mothers launched against the school board — represents an early role for Ohio in the civil rights movement that's not widely known.

Black artists' work on display at the Columbus Museum of Art show past and present

All different styles of art made by Black artists can be seen at the Columbus Museum of Art.

Dispatch Features Reporter Belinda M. Paschal highlighted 10 Black artists' work on display locally that you won't want to miss.

Difference-makers that punctuate Columbus' present

The inaugural Black Father Daughter Dance didn't disappoint

Check out adorable photos and a video by Dispatch Photographer Courtney Hergesheimer as she captured the fun, frills and fatherly love at the first Black Father Daughter Dance at COSI this month.

You won't want to miss the Soul Train line.

Black Girl Dad Week highlights unique roles

The Black Father Daughter Dance was part of a whole week of events celebrating father-daughter relationships, wrote features editor Erica Thompson.

The week of speakers, panels and more focused on supporting Black women and girls was created by Jewel Woods, clinical director of Male Behavioral Health, and presented in partnership with the Columbus Urban League. Learn about the goal in Thompson's story.

Have a craving? Check out what these Black-owned Columbus restaurants have to offer

G.A. Benton takes you through a mouth-watering array of food offered by seven local Black-owned restaurants.

From cheesesteak to burgers to New Orleans or Swahili-inspired fare, your stomach will be grumbling for what these establishments have to offer.

This East Side resident noticed that her and her peers weren't living as long as others, and set out to help

When Pamela Shields found out that life expectancy for Black people is lower than for those of other races — in part because of racial segregation — she set out to try to change that in her East Side Columbus community.

Learn more about what she's done, and the impact it has made on her and her neighbors.

Columbus was host to the Black History Festival this year

The Black History Festival took place at the Renaissance Downtown Columbus Hotel this year from Feb. 15 to 18 and welcomed a variety of people, wrote Dispatch Reporter Belinda M. Paschal.

The festival is an effort to connect Africa and its diaspora to the world, and the first was hosted in Washington, D.C. in 2022.

There was lots to see during Black History Month

The Dispatch made sure to highlight places where local residents could see art, events and more in celebration of Black History Month.

Check out this story on films, concerts and events in Columbus for Black History Month; as well as this one on programs offered by libraries and museums; and this story featuring art exhibits related to the celebratory month.

A look into Columbus' future

This growing community centers women of color as they build businesses

Zora's House, a nonprofit that has offered co-working space to women of color since 2018, recently broke ground on a new 10,000-square-foot facility in Weinland Park.

Read Dispatch Reporter Eric Lagatta's story on the organization, the women it helps and what's next, and see Dispatch Photographer Barbara Perenic's photos.

Amelia Robinson talks diversity, equity and inclusion with Eric Kearney

Columbus Dispatch opinion and engagement editor Amelia Robinson sat down to talk to former state senator Eric Kearney on the latest episode of her 'Then What Happened' podcast.

Kearney is director of diversity and inclusion for the Ohio Chamber and the CEO and president of the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce. The two discussed why Black-owned businesses are important and the future of Ohio.

Initiative that helps Black women business owners to get cash infusion in coming years

The Columbus Urban League has a new initiative to support Black and minority-owned businesses and Dispatch Reporter Eric Lagatta reported on support it's getting from JPMorgan Chase.

The financial services company announced recently that it is investing $3 million over the next three years in the league as funding for an initiative called Accelerate Her, which helps educate, support and increase access to capital and opportunity for 100 local women entrepreneurs and business owners.

Poetry and theater giant Charles ‘Is Said’ Lyons' impact lives on

Dispatch features editor Erica Thompson wrote about Charles 'Is Said' Lyons, a Columbus poet and playwright who died on Feb. 6 of cancer at age 88.

Hear from some of his mentees and learn how he was honored in this story.

This 'Youth of the Year' has a bright future

Shonn Tucker, 16, of Columbus' Milo-Grogan neighborhood was honored as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio’s “Youth of the Year.”

The award recognizes Tucker with a $10,000 scholarship and other prizes, but also is a nod to the organization's generational impact. Learn more about how in this story.

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dking@dispatch.com

@DanaeKing

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Black History Month: The stories of Columbus' history, present, future