Black History Month a time to celebrate Middletown's 'unsung heroes, rich history', speaker says
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Jan. 31—Kendall Wright, a 1978 Middletown High School graduate, said learning more about the Black community and its contributions to society "benefits all of us."
Without Black history, Wright said, there would be no American history.
"We have to understand the contributions that the pioneers brought to our community," he said. "I'm talking about the unsung heroes from the community. We have a very rich history. It's time we celebrate and learn more about that history."
The Middletown area will kick off Black History Month with an educational program Wednesday night at the Pendleton Art Center, 1105 Central Ave.
Wright is the keynote speaker and Abdul Shakur Ahmad is serving as master of ceremonies and sharing the coordination duties with Pernell Huff.
Wright graduated from the University of Dayton in 1982 and earned his master's degree from Webster University in 1987. He's a leadership dynamics expert, coach and president of Entelechy Training and Development, Inc.
He has spent decades on platforms worldwide, educating, empowering, and equipping leaders to excel in the most challenging aspect of their roles — the human dynamic, according to his bio.
Ahmad, formerly Ricky Martin, said the educational program will include music, poetry and an art display besides the keynote address from Wright.
While many Black athletes from Middletown are well-known, Ahmad, who played basketball at Wright State University, said February is a time to expand those celebrations to "ordinary people" who made contributions in the arts, education and industrial professions.
"Everybody has the opportunity to learn," he said. "We need to focus on what young people need to learn. If you don't tell your own story, and you leave it up to someone else, they may not tell it right."
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HOW TO GO
WHAT: Black History Month educational program
WHEN: 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: Pendleton Art Center, 1105 Central Ave., Middletown
HOW MUCH: Free and open to the public
