Upcoming Events in Hampton Roads

February 18
Seatack Civic League Will Honor Four For Black History
VIRGINIA BEACH
The Seatack Community Civic League will host its 3rd Annual CITYWIDE BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM on Saturday, February 18, 2017 from noon to 2 p.m.

Four Honorees will receive the “Life Time Achievement Award” to include Presiding Bishop Ted Thomas – National Board of Bishops Church of God In Christ, U.S.A.; Deputy Chief of Police (Retired) John L. Bell, Jr. – first African-American to rise to the level of “Deputy Chief of Police” in the City of Virginia Beach; Ms. Edna Hawkins-Hendrick – Author of the First Black History Book of Princess Anne County / Virginia Beach – Citywide Historian; and Ms. Brenda H. Andrews, “for your many years of service to the citizens of historic Seatack, Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads as the Owner and faithful Publisher of the New Journal and Guide Newspaper.”

The program will place at the Joseph V. Grimstead, Sr. – Seatack Recreation Center, 141 South Birdneck Road in historic Seatack, Virginia Beach.

E. George Minns, NAACP President-Elect Virginia Beach (5th term 2017), is the Presiding Officer of the Seatack Community Civic League Administration.

Navy’s First African American Seal To Be Awarded During Brunch
NORFOLK
The Oakmont Community Development Corporation will hold its 1st Brunch on Saturday, February 18, 2017 where it will celebrate the achievements of Retired, U.S. Navy Master Chief William Goines The event will take place at The Murray Taste ‘N’ See, 455 East Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Virginia 23510.

Master Chief William Goines is officially regarded as the first African-American Navy SEAL member, a feat he achieved in the early 60s.

Goines, a native of Lockland, Ohio, lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Marie, of 51 years.

On September 24, 2016, two weeks after his 80th birthday, Master Chief William Goines was honored at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture on its opening day. President Barack Obama was a part of that ceremony.

As a youth, Gaines taught himself how to swim at a local creek, a skill that would be crucial when he joined the Navy in 1955.

In 1962, when President John F. Kennedy formed the first two SEAL teams, Goines was one of 40 men selected, the only African-American.

Gaines completed 43 different training schools where he learned such survival skills as Judo, Aikido, and skills for escape and evasion; jungle warfare, skydiving and weapons training; how to capture enemies and how to rescue fellow seamen; and how to escape from plane and helicopter crashes over water. 

In 1976, he was selected to become part of the Chuting Stars, a U.S. Navy Parachute Demonstration Team. He performed 640 jumps during his five years on the team. 

In 1987, Goines retired from the Navy after 32 years of service. After leaving the Navy, he went on to become the chief of police for the school system of Portsmouth, Virginia. He said that job was harder than combat. After 14 years, he retired from Portsmouth school system and began recruiting SEALS for the Navy.

February 19, 26
Black History Film Series Being Shown At Central Library
VIRGINIA BEACH
A three-week film series for Black History Month continues Sunday February 19 and Sunday February 26 at the Central Library auditorium at 3 p.m.

Each film is about one hour in length and will be followed by a panel discussion facilitated by Virginia Beach History Museum staff.

On Feb. 18, African-American Film Series: Freedom Summer, will be shown. It details the 10 memorable weeks in 1964 known as Freedom Summer, when more than 700 student volunteers traveled to Mississippi to challenge racial segregation. Students from around the country joined organizers and local African-Americans in a historic effort to shatter the foundations of white supremacy in what was one of the nation’s most viciously racist, segregated states.

On Feb. 26, African-American Film Series: The Road to Brown, will be shown. The Road to Brown tells the story of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling as the culmination of a brilliant legal assault on segregation that launched the Civil Rights movement. It is also a moving and long overdue tribute to a visionary but little known Black lawyer, Charles Hamilton Houston, “the man who killed Jim Crow.”

The series opened on Sunday, February 12. There is no registration.

February 20
Hampton History Museum To Hold Discussions On Virginia Civil Rights
HAMPTON
The Hampton History Museum will host three public conversations on the history of civil rights, beginning Monday Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The free oral history project will focus on civil rights demonstrations that have occurred statewide.

The conversations will feature three moderators: Hampton author Linda Holmes; Emma Edmonds, who will talk about demonstrations in Danville; and Jerrold Roy, associate dean of the School of Education at Norfolk State University.

“The goal is to have a people learn from the history, and use this as a framework to have a conversation about the legacy of the civil rights movement,” said Luci Cochran, executive director at the Hampton History Museum. “Does it have any meaning for us today? Can it inform things today that we want to deal with? It starts with the history.”

The second monthly civic dialogue will be held on March 20. The third will be held April 23.

“It is a conversation with the community,” Cochran said. “The talks are going to look at the civil rights movement, especially in Hampton, from the perspective of the past, the present and the future. We want people to be involved. It’s really about giving some information and then having a frank, productive, problem-solving conversation.”

The series is made possible by a $6,000 grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.

March 4
‘Experience Ghana’ Event To Be Hosted By Norfolk Sister City
NORFOLK
“Experience Ghana” will be presented on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 4-6 p.m. at The Murray Center: Taste N’ See, 455 Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, VA. It is being hosted by the Tema, Ghana Committee of Norfolk Sister City Association (NSCA).

The evening of family fun will feature a delegation of Ghanaians who will be visiting Norfolk as part of NSCA’s international program.

Samplings of traditional Ghanaian cuisine and culture will be offered. Events include an African Attire Fashion Show, Raffle of African Artifacts, Traditional Music and other entertainment.

Tickets are $10 (for NSCA members) and $15 (non-members). Children 12 and under are $5. Tickets may be purchased at www.norfolksistercities.org
For more information call (757) 627-0530