March 9, 2013 - March 15, 2013, The Afro-American B1

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Chairwoman Dr. Mary Frances Berry delivered the keynote address at the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s annual Black History Month luncheon Feb. 24. The event, held at the Marriott Wardman Park in Northwest Washington, was built around the theme for this year’s Black History Month, At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington.

The registration team: Mona Calhoun; Jacqueline McGlenn, Ivana Williams, Gwendolyn Harlee, Charlotte Douglas, Sherri Street, Sunny DeGeneste and Juanita Cole

Living Legacy Award Honorees

Tuere Anne Marshall, Mary McCoy, Denyse Gordon, ASALH President Dr. Daryl Scott; program emcee Aaron Gilchrist, NBC4 News Anchor; ASALH Executive Director Sylvia Cyrus; Natasha Stovall and Tecoya Gordon

Dr. Daryl Scott (left) and Sylvia Cyrus (right) with Living Legacy honoree, Tracy Webb

Luncheon Co-Chairs Louis Hicks and Dr. Valerie MaHolmes

Dr. Gladys Gary Vaughn, Dr. Janet Sims-Wood , V.P. Franklin, Mary Frances Berry, guest speaker and Dr. Daryl Scott

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity members and the Grand Basileus, Dr. Andrew Ray (center, seated)

U.S.  Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Suzan Johnson Cook presented the African American Month Proclamation to Dr. Scott and Sylvia Cyrus

The official Emancipation Proclamation Stamp unveiled: Dr. Scott; Deputy Postmaster General Ronald Stroman; Emancipation stamp designer Gail Anderson and Sylvia Cyrus

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Grand Basileus Dr. Andrew Ray presented $10,000 check to ASALH

Cornelius Scott of Farmer’s Insurance (left), along with Dr. Scott and Sylvia Cyrus, presented Living Legacy award to honoree Rosalyn Brock, Chair, NAACP board of directors

ASALH presented $2,000 to Bowie State University

Andrea Young, Edgar Brookins, the Webb family, Faye Hyslop (center), Adrianne Webb and Avis Thomas-Lester

Photos by Rob Roberts

Rev. Gwendolyn Boyd

Ambassador at Large Suzan Johnson Cook meeting Darienne Page as Sullivan Robinson looks on

Musical prelude was performed by Zachery Lester; here with his mother, Avis Thomas-Lester

The Buffalo Soldiers

Rep. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) gives Words of Encouragement

Samoan Congregational Choir Ministry performing a traditional Samoan hymnLinda Burse, honoree Darienne Page, Col Ira Cheatham,

Sgt. Maj. Craig Cressman, Lt. Col. Priscilla Smalls and Chaplain (LT) Devon Foster

Honorees: Col. Gregory Gadson and Ambassador at Large Suzan Johnson Cook

Chaplain Foster assisting Ambassador at Large Cook back to her seat

Emcee Robin Mazyck with program coordinator Edgar Brookins

Honorees: William and Pamela Douglas; Darienne Page; Maj. Gen. Marcia M. Anderson; Col. Gregory Gadson; Ambassador at Large Suzan Johnson Cook and Jessica Frith, Miss DC USA; 2nd row: Despina Ades, Miss DC Teen USA; Lt. Col. Priscilla Smalls; Col. Ira Cheatham; Tecoya Gordon, Miss Black DC USA; Sgt. Maj. Craig Cressman and Chaplain (LT)Devon Foster

Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson and Col. Gregory Gadson with Howard University Army ROTC Cadets

Edgar Brookins with local queens Tecoya Gordon, Despina Andes and Jessica Frith

Photos by Rob Roberts

The joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (JBM-HH) Gospel Congregation held its annual Black History Month Religious Service Feb. 23, 2013 at the Memorial Chapel in Fort Myer, Va. The Keeper of the Community Award was presented to Maj. Gen. Marcia M. Anderson, the Honorable Suzan Johnson Cook, Ambassador at Large, International Religious Freedom, Dept. of State, Darienne Page, Office

of Public Engagement, the White House, Col. Gregory Gadson, Commander, Fort Belvoir, Va. and William

and Pamela Douglas. The guest speaker was Rev. Gwendolyn Boyd of Ebenezer AME Church and the emcee was Robin Mazyck of the Christian Broadcasting network. A fellowship dinner followed the service.

March 9, 2013 -March 15, 2013, The Afro-American B1

Terry McMillan was the featured author of the annual Booklovers’ Breakfast hosted by the Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore, Feb. 10 at the Waterfront Marriott Hotel. This 25th anniversary event that began with 100 guests and has now grown to more than 650 guests, was filled with laughter and excitement as McMillan read from her book set to debut in September, 2013. The audience was filled with book clubs and avid readers, some of whom have attended every event.

Terry McMillan signing her books for fans

Photos by A. Lois DeLaine and Avis Thomas-Lester

Mia Chapman-Fisher, DeVese Beverly and Barbara Chapman

Terry McMillan, author, receives a proclamation from Sen. Verna Jones-Rodwell with Vernon Reid and Dr. Carla Hayden

Bonita Bush, Latonya Christian and Nakia Robinson

Diane Bell McKoy hugs a friend

Booklovers Sandra Chessley, Benlon Wright and Rhonda Robertson

Pat Roberts gets her book signed by author, Terry McMillan

Enoch Pratt staff members Shirley Harley, Jamillah Saboor and Darcell Little

D.E.A.R. Girlfriends Book Club

Diane Bell McCoy, CEO, Associated Black Charities; Nicole Migginson and Rebecca Rawlings Scott

Terry McMillan, author

Temika Britton and Tonia Christopher

Dorothy Johnson and Evelyn Bennett

Friends enjoying the event

Guests enjoying the buffet

Colleen Hayden and Dr. Nina Rawlings

Mona Rock, Colleen Hayden and Cynthia Rock

B2 The Afro-American, March 9, 2013 - March 15, 2013

The year was 1913 and at Howard University, 22 women were organizing to create the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. At the same time, women all across America were agitating for the right to vote.

In March of that year, women from across the country converged on Washington to demand their right to cast ballots. The Deltas were there—the only African-American organization to take a place in the protest lines.

One hundred years later, on March 3, 2013, the Deltas led a march in celebration of their 100th anniversary and the centennial of that 1913 march. Some came decked out in period attire, almost all donned the trademark red and white.

The event gave members of the sorority the experience of being where their foremothers had been all those years ago. The theme to the event was “Tracing the Footsteps of our Founders.”

“Our Founders’ participation in women’s suffrage was the first official act of public service and social advocacy in the rich history of our organization,”

said Cynthia M. A. Butler-McIntyre, national president of Delta Sigma Theta, in a statement. “It is only befitting that, during the 100th anniversary of the birth of Delta Sigma Theta, we honor them by literally tracing their steps which set a precedent for every Delta to emulate.”

Under steely skies, the sorority members gathered on the west front of the U.S. Capitol and marched the 3.1 miles down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Washington Monument, where closing arguments were delivered.

“I chartered two buses of 107 women from Atlanta to be a part of this historical event with my sorors from around the globe,” said Debra Bunkley of Georgia. “To reenact an event that changed the course of voting rights

and then pass the White House where my vote made a difference recently made me realize at that moment that we all can make a difference for the better if we begin with one step.”

Besides Delta Sigma Theta, co-sponsors included the National Organization for Women, the National Women’s History Museum and the Sewall-Belmont House Museum, organizers said.

Deltas Celebrate Centennial with Suffrage March Redux

Courtesy photos