Post Date: 02/28/2018 2:00 PM

Wilmington wraps up month-long celebration of African-American contributions to City’s history and culture

As Black History Month comes to a close, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki today encouraged citizens to continue to reflect on the important contributions that African Americans have made to our City, its history and its culture.

“While it’s important to take time out each year to recognize the often overlooked achievements of African Americans in our nation’s history, we should continue throughout the year to recognize the many important contributions that our fellow citizens of color have made, and continue to make, to our City and to our State,” said Mayor Purzycki. “Black History is, after all, not separate from our general history, but rather is inextricably interwoven with and essential to it.”

The Mayor suggested one way to celebrate local Black History throughout the year is to visit the Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage at the Delaware Historical Society, located at 505 North Market Street in Downtown Wilmington. The exhibit presents compelling perspectives of African Americans’ struggles for human rights, freedom and dignity in Delaware and the nation. From slavery to resistance, to forging faith and community, and from standing together for freedom and equality to serving an ambivalent nation during times of war, this ground-breaking exhibition chronicles the African American experience in Delaware. For more information, visit www.delawarehistory.org.

Mayor Purzycki and his Chief of Staff Tanya Washington, who is also the City’s first female African American Chief of Staff, recently visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The Mayor and Ms. Washington suggest that children and families find time to visit the museum at 1400 Constitution Avenue, as another way to celebrate African American history throughout the year. For more information, visit nmaahc.si.edu.

“We are right to commemorate well-known local historical figures such as Clifford Brown, Louis L. Redding, Cab Calloway, Herman Holloway Sr., Harriet Tubman, Judy Johnson, and William ‘Hicks’ Anderson, as well as those names that may not be so recognizable to younger generations – people such as Dr. Eugene McGowan, State Representative Al Plant and his wife, Representative Hazel Plant, Abraham D. Shadd, Dr. Conwell Banton, and Thomas E. Postels,” the Mayor continued. “These individuals and many others have enriched and improved our community in ways both large and small, and we are all better off for their having shared their talents, their knowledge, and their determination.”

“Finally,” Mayor Purzycki concluded, “we should remember that African American history is not confined to centuries or decades past, but is very much alive, with new and important stories being written today. We see this in trailblazers like Hanifa Shabazz, the first African American woman elected as President of City Council as well as all African American Members of City Council past and present. Velda Jones Potter, the City’s first African American City Treasurer also falls into the trailblazer category. We also salute Lisa Blunt Rochester, who we welcomed last year as the first woman and first African-American ever to represent Delaware in Congress, and State Senator Margaret Rose Henry, the first and only African American woman to serve in the Delaware Senate, and to whom we will wish a very happy and fulfilling retirement at the end of her current term.”

Earlier this month, Mayor Purzycki was honored to join the Delaware 87ers in paying tribute to another trailblazer, legal pioneer Paulette Sullivan Moore, the first African American woman to be sworn in to the Delaware Bar, at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark. The Delaware 87ers partnered with the City of Wilmington to host a Black History Month Celebration during halftime of their game against the Canton (Ohio) Charge on Tuesday, February 13.

Ms. Sullivan Moore, admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1977, was recognized before a crowd of more than 2,900 spectators – the largest weekday crowd in recent memory, according to Alex Yoh, Director of Communication for the 87ers. Sullivan Moore was presented with an honorary game ball, two official personalized Sevens jerseys, proclamations from Mayor Purzycki and Delaware Governor John Carney, remarks from New Castle County Executive Matt Myer, as well as a Key to the City from the Mayor. In addition, five dollars from each ticket sold was donated to Wilmington’s Walnut Street YMCA Black Achievers Program.

The City’s Black History Month celebration also included a Black History Knowledge Bowl sponsored by the Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation, held at the William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center (WHACC) on Friday, February 23. Students 10 to 16 years old competed on one of six teams of five members each to answer questions about African American history. The winning team, representing Mowlds Cottage at Ferris School, earned a trophy and each team member was awarded a medal.

Rounding out the month-long series of events was a Black History Month Celebration, also at WHACC, located at 501 North Madison Street, on Tuesday, February 27, which featured artistic presentations and included a poetry reading by Wilmington’s “Twin Poets,” brothers Al Mills and Nnamdi Chukwuocha.

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News and information from the Office of Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki

John Rago

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Communications

Mobile: (302) 420-7928

Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov



Paul Ford Jr.

Communications Specialist

Mobile: (302) 530-2171

Email: plford@WilmingtonDE.gov



Dan Sanchez

Digital & Social Media Manager

Mobile: (302) 605-0026

Email: dsanchez@WilmingtonDE.gov