Joint Staff Hampton Roads Celebrates Black History Month

SUFFOLK
The Black History Program Committee and the Joint Staff Hampton Roads’ MWR presented its annual BHM observance on February 28 under the theme, “The Untold Stories of Hampton Roads’ Finest-American History.”

Two speakers highlighted the event that included a video presentation, singing of the Negro National Anthem, and a reception.

Dr. Christine Darden, a retired Aerospace Engineer and Mathematician for NASA and SES Langley Air Force Base, spoke on her career as one of the early African-American women working in the highly complex field formerly reserved for men. Her story has been paralleled with that of Dr. Katherine Johnson, who along with Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, are the subjects for the hit movie, “Hidden Figures.”

The second speaker was New Journal and Guide Publisher Brenda H. Andrews, who spoke on the purpose of Black newspapers and their significance as the recorders of Black History. Her newspaper is observing 117 years of continuous publication.

Other persons on the program were BG Paul E. Bauman, USAF; Debra Carroll; Rosyln Covington; Dr. Earl J. Eaddy; and Col. Kevin R. Scott, USMC, who served as Master of Ceremony.

Dr. Christine Darden

NJG Publisher Brenda H. Andrews