Last weekend, Jacksonville held its annual Black History Program at the Community Center. This year, the program spotlighted the youth in Jacksonville.

Joanna Maddox entertained and informed those in attendance when she performed her one-woman show. A free Soul Food Dinner was also provided by The Village Inn. The city’s Black History Committee planned this event and because of their hard work it was a success. Committee members are Nancy Dickens, Emily Lipscomb, Margaret Lomax, Myrus Weaver, Charles Wilson, Ethel Kimbrough, Chargina Moore and Constance Nation. City Councilwoman Sandra Sudduth heads the committee.

“We celebrate Black History Month because so many books and so many events never mention the positive things that blacks have done for this country,” Sudduth said. “So we celebrate it so we can spotlight the contributions of blacks in America.”

In conjunction, Jacksonville’s Parks and Recreation hosted ‘Bearing the Soul,’ an art exhibit showcasing black art. Jason Wright, the curator of the exhibit said that the event is a showcase of the black experience.

“Diane O’Neil, the assistant curator, and myself thought it would be great to do a themed art show on black art,” said Wright. “Not necessarily art by African Americans or by black people, but art that is of the black culture. That can be from anyone.”