BHMA: Events

The BHMA's Annual Black History Month Program:

“An Evening with Sojourner Truth at
Freedman's Village... and Beyond.”
Linda Crocker Simmons
Secretary, Board of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington and
Co-chairperson for the Black History Event 2-12-2004

Thursday evening, February 12, 2004 the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington co-sponsored with the Arlington Historical Society,
the African American Employees Association and the Arlington County Library "An Evening with Sojourner Truth at Freedman's Village ...and Beyond." About 100 to 120 people attended the presentations from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM in the auditorium of the Central Library.

The master of ceremony for the evening was Craig Syphax, President of the BHMA. To begin the evening he introduced County Board Member Chris Zimmerman who presented a proclamation for Black History Month. Craig
continued the program with the video, "A Vision of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington" produced by Sarah Gulick, a student at Marymount University and preceded by remarks from Dr. Margaret Mulrooney, Associate Professor of History at Marymount University. Next the audience enjoyed a visit from Sojourner Truth as performed by Mollyn Furman. Musical entertainment was provided by Dion Wilkins, a Marymount University student who sang a song with words written by Sojourner Truth to the tune of "John Brown's Body". Vivian Ritter, Ambassador for Truth, from the Sojourner Truth Institute in Battle Creek, Michigan spoke with conviction about that community's multi-year effort to raise $800,000 for a statue of Sojourner Truth and showed a video with comments from a descendant of Sojourner Truth.

The evening concluded with BHMA Chairman,
Dr. Talmadge Williams, offering thanks and acknowledgments to the various people and groups who had made the evening possible. He was joined briefly on stage by Ms Ritter for the presentation of a copy of a portrait of Sojourner Truth by Ron Brown to the BHMA. Before refreshments were served Dion Wilkins returned to lead us in singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing..." Composed by Sojourner Truth and sang to the black regiment in Detroit, Michigan.




The BHMA's Annual Black History Month Program: “An Evening with Sojourner Truth at Freedman's Village... and Beyond.” Linda Crocker Simmons Secretary, Board of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington and Co-chairperson for the Black History Event 2-12-2004 Thursday evening, February 12, 2004 the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington co-sponsored with the Arlington Historical Society, the African American Employees Association and the Arlington County Library "An Evening with Sojourner Truth at Freedman's Village ...and Beyond." About 100 to 120 people attended the presentations from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM in the auditorium of the Central Library. The master of ceremony for the evening was Craig Syphax, President of the BHMA. To begin the evening he introduced County Board Member Chris Zimmerman who presented a proclamation for Black History Month. Craig continued the program with the video, "A Vision of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington" produced by Sarah Gulick, a student at Marymount University and preceded by remarks from Dr. Margaret Mulrooney, Associate Professor of History at Marymount University. Next the audience enjoyed a visit from Sojourner Truth as performed by Mollyn Furman. Musical entertainment was provided by Dion Wilkins, a Marymount University student who sang a song with words written by Sojourner Truth to the tune of "John Brown's Body". Vivian Ritter, Ambassador for Truth, from the Sojourner Truth Institute in Battle Creek, Michigan spoke with conviction about that community's multi-year effort to raise $800,000 for a statue of Sojourner Truth and showed a video with comments from a descendant of Sojourner Truth. The evening concluded with BHMA Chairman, Dr. Talmadge Williams, offering thanks and acknowledgments to the various people and groups who had made the evening possible. He was joined briefly on stage by Ms Ritter for the presentation of a copy of a portrait of Sojourner Truth by Ron Brown to the BHMA. Before refreshments were served Dion Wilkins returned to lead us in singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing..." Composed by Sojourner Truth and sang to the black regiment in Detroit, Michigan.	The Evelyn Syphax Academic Center The Arlington County Fair 2007 Dr Talmadge Williams and Ms. Nina Gutierrez wedding Arlington Neighborhood Day Parade
	Craig Syphax, BHMA President "A Vision of the BHMA" video by MU student Sarah Gulick Ms Vivian Ritter Joan White, VP of the BHMA talking to Chris Zimmerman, Arlington County Board member Frank K. Wilson, Chairman Arlington County School Board. Lower left, Kendall Thompson, Site Manager, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Park Service	Dr. Talmadge Williams, BHMA Chairman Sojourner Truth as performed by Mollyn Furman Ms Ritter presents Mr Syphax with Sojourner Truth portrait for the BHMA Dion Wilkins, MU student provides musical entertainment Tthe singing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing..."