February 9, 2007
By Ndaba Dlamini
BLACK History Month will be celebrated at the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto with an educational discussion with township youngsters and cultural performances, on Friday, 9 February.
With the topic "The colour of my skin versus the content of my character", the discussion will be led by Reverend Earl Neil, an African-American civil rights activist. Hector Pieterson Museum's chief curator, Ali Hlongwane; Mpho Moloto, from the Hector Pieterson Museum Youth Forum; and United States consulate, Chris Ward will also speak at the gathering.
"The dialogue is part of the Black History Month celebrations programme," Hlongwane says. "The organisers in the United States bring people to South Africa so that they can interact with and be part of the museum's education programme."
Established in 1976 by the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, Black History Month is celebrated in the US in February. Across the pond, the United Kingdom celebrates Black History Month in October. The theme chosen by the founders of Black History Month for 2007 is "From slavery to freedom, Africans in the Americas".
Part of the aim of Black History Month is to expose the harms of racial prejudice and to cultivate black self-esteem following centuries of socio-economic oppression. It is also an opportunity to recognise significant contributions to society made by people of African heritage.
The day's programme starts at 2.30pm with presentations by Hlongwane, Moloto and Ward, followed by a debate led by Neil.
Neil, a native of St Paul, Minnesota, has held several positions in the US's Episcopal Church. He worked for three years between 1990 and 1993 in South Africa on the staff of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. During this time he assisted in the development and co-ordination of programmes for the resettlement of exiles, conflict management and reconciliation dealing with violence in the townships, and voter education in preparation for the first democratic elections in South Africa in 1994.
The reverend has received several awards for his community work: the It's About Time Legacy Award in 2003 in recognition of his undying love for people, fighting for the rights of the oppressed and setting an example to be followed; the National Union of Black Episcopalians Award in 1990 for years of service in the ministry and dedicated witness to the African struggle for freedom around the world; and the Doctor of Divinity Degree, honoris causa, in 1980 in recognition of his deep Christian concern about the plight and needs of the black community in Cairo, Illinois.
After the formal discussions, the gathering will be entertained with song, music and dance. The day's events will close at the nearby Uncle Tom's Hall.
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