Press Releases

U.S. Embassy Observes Black History Month in Style

March 6, 2008

 

On Friday, February 29, the U.S. Embassy commemorated Black History Month in a special celebration held at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel.  The event, highlighting African-American/Bahamian Heritage was held under the theme, “A Common Past, A Future Together”.  Embassy staff, Bahamian government representatives and a cross-section of the Bahamian community attended the two-hour celebration. 

The Governor’s Ballroom of the Hilton hotel was transformed into a cultural display of African and Bahamian artifacts, music and paintings.  The program included welcome remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Dr. D. Brent Hardt, who noted that the  Embassy wanted to celebrate the rich threads of African-American culture in the beautiful and strong fabric of America’s diversity.  Such a celebration, he added, offered an opportunity to reflect not only on the common heritage shared by the U.S. and The Bahamas, but on our interwoven histories.  He observed that as we celebrate our shared history and cultural commonalities, we must look to the future to encourage literacy, guide the youth to a productive path in life, and fight the scourges of drugs, guns, and gangs.  Dr. Hardt called on The Bahamas and the United States to face these challenges together.

The evening progressed with rich and lively entertainment and the spoken word.   Lydia Ferguson of the African-Bahamian Association of Ghana, gave an overview on African Heritage, while Arlene Nash-Ferguson, Director of Educulture spoke on the African influence on the Bahamian society.  Well known Bahamian entertainer and recording artist Jay Mitchell brought the crowd to their feet with two of his popular tunes, “Another Place and Time”, and “Fire in the Hole”.   Fred Munnings, Jr. gave a soulful rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.  Known as the Negro National Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was composed by Bahamian sons James Weldon Johnson and John Roasmand Johnson.  Audiences also enjoyed “Rake & Scrape” and a powerful drum performance by Reuben Deleveaux, also known as “Rumpapumpum”.  The Black History Month celebration climaxed with a spectacular Junkanoo Rushout performed by the Atlantis Marina Village Junkanoo Group.

The event was made possible through the patronage of Ambassador Ned L. Siegel and Mrs. Stephanie Siegel, who were unable to attend, but actively supported this special Black History Month cultural celebration.

 

Caption:  Photo shows the Minister of State for Culture, The Hon. Charles Maynard enjoying the Marina Village Junkanoo Group Rush Out.