BLACK HISTORY MONTH: AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE EMPHASIZED DURING OBSERVANCE

Names of some of the local black women are displayed at the museum for Black History Month.

Black History Month is observed in February to remind Americans of the contributions African-Americans made to this country's history. That's according to Dawn Evans, president of the Cape Girardeau chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

"African-Americans have made significant contributions to America," she said, "and sometimes we're not reminded of those contributions until February."

For the African-American community, Evans said Black History Month can bring a sense of community and belonging to this society. "It should be a time of pride, a time of reflection and knowing that they have played roles such as inventors, educators and philosophers in this society," she said.

The month of observance also should bring about understanding for people outside the African-American community, Evans said.

"It's not about black and white," she said. "So many barriers would be broken down between all races if we realize the contributions that have been made by everyone.

Recognizing the achievements of black women will be the subject of an exhibit this month at the University Museum at Southeast Missouri State University.

Sally Irvine, the project director, said the exhibit, "Black Women: Achievements Against the Odds," is a celebration of the creativity and accomplishments of African-American women from colonial times to the present in observance of Black History Month.

Not only will the exhibit feature women achieving international and national acclaim, but African-American women achievers from the Cape Girardeau area also will be featured, including literary activist Juanita Spicer, dentist Dr. Diane Hall, educator and singer Charlene Peyton and poet Dr. Dorothy Hardy. Visitors to the museum can suggest the names of other local achievers to be recognized and honored during the exhibit.

The museum exhibit will be held in conjunction with other activities including a special lecture Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. by Dr. Shirley Jordan.

Jordan, a scholar and former university professor, will examine the literary tradition of African-American women.

Also in conjunction with the museum exhibit, St. James AME church will feature nine authors in a reading and discussion at the church Feb. 17. Authors and poets featured at the celebration include Phyllis Wheatley, Nikki Giovanni and Toni Morrison.

A film series also is slated at the University Museum during the exhibit. Films profiling other great African-American women will be shown Feb. 27-29 at 7 p.m. in the University Museum. Professor Steven Hoffman, a scholar of African-American history and a member of the faculty at Southeast, will moderate the film series.

The museum exhibit opened Monday and will close Feb. 29. Museum hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.

The NAACP plans a celebration Feb. 24 at the Salvation Army.

With the cooperation of the St. James AME Church and Second Baptist Church, portions of their observances will be presented for the community to see, Evans said. The churches are planning observances for their congregations during the special month, she said.

Also making a special effort to observe Black History Month is Washington Elementary School in Cape Girardeau.

Principal Barbara Blanchard said not only are individual classes planning special activities for the month, but a special Parent Teacher Association meeting is slated to discuss African-American contributions to society.

As observances of Black History Month continue to grow, Evans said it will better society and this community as a whole.

"This celebration causes us to get to know our neighbors -- who we are and where we came from," she said. "We're getting to know one another.

"All men are created equal, but we're different. And there's nothing wrong with that."