The City of Oak Hill is pleased to announce a 4-week lecture series in celebration of Black History Month. The series will take place every Saturday in February at 6pm in the City Council Chambers. Topics of the lecture series will range from Black Political Figures in Fayette County from 1896-1918 to Black Female Activist Who Impacted the World.
Mayor Wright planned the lecture series with the thought that many people may not know that the founder of Black History Month is a native of West Virginia and taught in the Fayette County School system from 1897-1900. Last year, the mayor issued a proclamation honoring The Black Experience in American History to “urge all Oak Hill citizens to recognize the contributions of Black America.” One fact that the mayor cited at the January City Council meeting was that West Virginia’s first Black legislator, Christopher Payne, was elected in 1896 from Fayette County. Mayor Wright wanted to host this lecture series to expand upon the proclamation and to “promote an even better awareness of the contributions of Black Americans throughout history”.
Guest lecturers include Mayor Daniel Wright, retired educator, and local historian. Rev. Ronald English, former aide to Martin Luther King Jr. and now serves as an interim minister in Charleston and is a consultant in healing and restorative justice. Dr. Brucella Jordan is a prominent poet/author and Professor of History. Rev. Matthew Watts is Chair of the Hope Community Development Foundation and Pastor of Grace Bible Church.
Dates of Lectures
• February 2nd – Mayor Daniel Wright
• February 12th – Rev. Ronald English
• February 19th – Dr. Brucella Jordan
• February 26 - Rev. Matthew Watts
Please join us for this amazing opportunity to hear from the impressive lineup of guest speakers every Saturday in February at 6pm in City Council Chambers.
For more information, please check out the City of Oak Hill Facebook for the event pages associated with the lecture series, or call Mayor Daniel Wright at 304-465-8845.