Events mark Black History Month with arts and speakers

First Calvary Baptist Church in Salisbury held a special program on February 21st to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, focusing on both local and national historical perspectives. The event featured presentations, historical displays, and a musical tribute.

The program included a variety of exhibits and presentations highlighting significant historical events and figures.

Historical Displays

The event showcased several historical items, including an original deed for the land purchased by Joseph Horah and donated to Dixonville Baptist Church. Photographs depicting Dixonville before urban renewal and the ground breaking ceremony for the current church were also on display. A dedicated table honored Louise M. Rountree, the former Livingstone College Andrew Carnegie librarian and historian, recognizing her research and contributions to historical documentation.

Church History and Musical Tribute

Pastor Rev. David Camps provided a history of First Calvary Baptist Church, originally known as Dixonville Baptist Church, founded in 1865 by Quakers. He emphasized the importance of honoring ancestors and led the congregation in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” followed by a prayer and recognition of the late Jesse Jackson.

The Great Migration and Enslavement

Yvonne Dixon, retired healthcare leader, presented on the national impact of the Great Migration, a period of significant movement of Black families. She detailed two waves of migration, one from 1915-1940 (1.6 million people) and another from 1940-1970 (5 million+ people). Dixon’s exhibit included books, record albums, paintings, a Gullah doll, African art, baskets, and a doll collection featuring figures like Opal Lee, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Parks. The exhibit also featured a painting by a Charlotte artist depicting George Floyd and other Black individuals who have been victims of violence. One book, “They Stopped in Oberlin,” detailed the story of enslaved people in Salisbury owned by Maxwell Chambers, who freed them and sent them to Oberlin, Ohio, via the Underground Railroad.

Preserving a Black Cemetery

Cynthia Stanfield, a teacher and multiple award recipient, shared her discovery of a small, neglected Black cemetery on Old Concord Road. After learning the cemetery was a paupers cemetery and an extension of Rowan County Homes, she initiated efforts to preserve it. Stanfield secured state certification for the cemetery as a historical site, protecting it under state laws and regulations. She is currently fundraising for a historical marker, seeking donations and appealing to the Rowan County commissioners, who have not yet responded to her request. The estimated cost for the marker, pole, and installation is $15,166.

Community Reflections and Art Exhibit

Monica Leak, a Salisbury resident, expressed appreciation for the event, noting the importance of connecting with local history. Following the presentations, attendees were invited to view a 40-plus piece art collection donated to the church by Christopher and Charlotte Bennett, originally from New York. The collection, comprised of historical and one-of-a-kind original pieces, will be sold to benefit the church and its community outreach programs.