Lebanon NAACP kicks off Black History Month events focused on local history

Branch 26AA-B of the NAACP of Lebanon County has planned a variety of events for February in celebration of Black History Month.

Black History Month, which has been celebrated in February in the United States since 1970, commemorates African-American history and culture. The local NAACP emphasizes a local focus, including on African-Americans in Lebanon County history and art produced by locals.

“This is a time for us to celebrate Black History Month, and as we recognize it, I think it’s crucial that we cultivate a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and unity that positively impacts all communities,” said Lebanon NAACP president Tony Fields. “I’m including our Latino group, the Muslim population, our Caucasian brothers and sisters; hopefully this will set the groundwork for us to unite our efforts towards social justice and fairness. It’s about prayer that we will enhance our community as we become a unified front, a unified entity here in Lebanon County.”

Sunday, the NAACP hosted the first of two seminars about Governor Dick, the possible namesake of Governor Dick Park, an 18th-century enslaved Black charcoal burner. Organizers said the free seminar by Kathy Lindert and Marcus Walko ran out of seats within just three days of registration.

As a result, another date was set for the seminar. It will take place at the Lebanon County Historical Society at 924 Cumberland St. on March 21 from 2 to 4 p.m., with registration required.

NAACP secretary Michael Schroeder explained that Walko was his student at Lebanon Valley College, who researched the history of slavery at Cornwall Iron Furnace and Governor Dick for a class project. Ph.D. economist Lindert also researched those topics and came on board for the seminar.

This Friday, the Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts will partner with the NAACP for the fourth consecutive year on a Black history exhibit. Art will be on display from four professional artists, Lebanon School District students, a stamp collection, and more, including a live painting from local artist Joyce Hansen and music by Luther Tyree.

“I think what excites me, professionally and personally, is that we’re building relationships,” said NAACP executive committee member Lori Burrus. “So the Art Council automatically knows now that we’re on that first Friday, and Joyce has been fantastic.”

Feb. 21, the NAACP will host a free showing of the movie “The Six Triple Eight” at the Lebanon County Historical Society, with a reception from 3 to 4 p.m., and the showing beginning at 4. The 2024 Tyler Perry war drama follows the U.S. Army’s 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, comprising Black women (31 officers and 824 enlisted personnel) who served overseas in World War II processing mail for service members 24-7, alternating eight-hour shifts.

“The condition was unbearable,” said Fields. “Matter of fact, in some ways, they were set up to fail because they didn’t think the task was going to be able to be completed. However, the task was given, and the women went out, and they succeeded.”

Four of these women, he said, were buried in Lebanon County, and were recently given proper gravesites.

“What we’ve been trying to do in this area is not only recognize those four women, but throughout the county, throughout Pennsylvania, there are other women that were never really recognized,” said Fields. He said some that were buried at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, “but now they’re given the proper gravesite that have the description 6888.”

The final event in February is the fourth annual Black History Month Freedom Fund Gala at WEPA Empowerment Center at 9 S. 9th St. The $55-per-ticket Motown-themed event will feature a DJ, performances by NAACP members, and tables with various resources.

Burrus cited the Marvin Gaye song “What’s Going On,” which heavily focused on current events when released in 1971, as an inspiration for organizers.

“I look at the ’60s and ’70s because I grew up during that,” said Burrus. “Civil rights movement, we had a killing at Kent State, we had the Vietnam War and all of that, women’s liberation, gay rights. I always tell people, history is history; we can see some of the same things before. One of my favorite songs is ‘What’s Going On’ by Marvin Gaye, and when you listen to that song, which Motown did not want him to put out, it talks about what’s going on, and I think we’re asking that same question today.”

Fair District, Pennsylvania Human Relations, and the Department of Treasury will be represented at booths at the event to provide attendees with more information. The Lebanon Voting Rights Group has also provided information to be distributed.

“Those are the groups that will be there talking to people, which is different than what we’ve done before, but it needs to happen with all that’s going on today,” said Burrus.

Burrus described the racism she has experienced as a Black woman coming of age in the ’60s and ’70s. She recalled being called a racial slur on her first day of school at age 5.

Since then, there has been a Black homecoming queen at Cedar Crest High School and Black students at Lebanon Valley College, which she said never would have happened during her childhood. She emphasized politician participation and support at NAACP events, such as the regular gala attendance of Mayor Sherry Capello.

Fields added that he wants to encourage a feeling of safety for people of color in Lebanon County, and encourage community between everyone.

“There’s a stigma, that people think, for Black people to live in this area is a frightful thing, for people to come in here; people still think that in 2026,” said Fields. “So I’m hoping that what we do here allows others to see that there’s no need to be that fearful, because there are some forefathers that did great things that lived successfully in this community. There are Black people that live successfully in this community, that shake hands with their sisters and brothers that’s not Black. We can live here in Lebanon.”

The Lebanon branch of the NAACP (or National Association for the Advancement of Colored people, the U.S.’s oldest civil rights organization, formed in 1909) plans educational and community events, funds scholarships for local students, and hosts several committees, among other roles. The education, public safety & criminal justice, legal redress, and membership committees meet regularly and make recommendations.

“It is my desire that as we continue to engage with each other, especially with our unit, and our unit is so diverse,” Fields said. “It speaks well, I think, to the message that we’re starting to send to the community, the world at large, that we are brothers and sisters, and then we can do this work. We don’t always agree on certain things, but we know we have the same ideals.”

“Martin Luther King was walking at the same time that Malcom X was,” added Burrus. “The same purpose, but a different way of doing it. I think there will always be a sense of racism, that’s unfortunately life, but how do you do the fight, and that’s what people need to figure out.”