Proclamation honors committee, Rev. Jimmy Terry
Clarksville, TN – Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan joined community leaders for the opening of Black History Month in Clarksville, and formally proclaimed February as a special time to “celebrate the achievements and contributions made by African Americans to our economic, cultural, spiritual and political development.”
Mayor McMillan commended the Rev. Anderson Grant, chairman, and Pastor Frank Washington for their work with the Clarksville Black History Month Committee, which organized the February 1st Opening Celebration.
The event at the Customs House Museum included a youth choir, dance and spoken word performances and a homily.
Servella Terry, widow of the late Rev. Jimmy Terry Sr., joined Mayor McMillan at the podium to present the proclamation, which notes the pioneering “vision of the Rev. Terry and other honorable citizens of Clarksville … to establish a Clarksville Black History Month Committee to recognize the efforts, achievements and ingenuity of African-Americans.”
Mayor McMillan also announced two Black History Month events that are being presented by the City.
Clarksville Parks and Recreation will present “Words of Power: The Alex-Zan Story” at 5:30pm on February 13th at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center. The event is free to the public. Charles Alexander, known as Alex-Zan, will share his experiences as a member of the “Charlottesville Twelve,” the first group of 12 students to desegregate Virginia public schools in 1958. He also will lead an anti-bullying discussion for youth attending the City’s after-school program at 3:00pm, February 13th at the Burt-Cobb community Center.
Clarksville Parks and Recreation also will present “Clarksville’s United States Colored Troops” at 1:00pm Saturday, February 17th at the Fort Defiance Interpretive Center.
Members of the Mount Olive Cemetery Preservation Society will share biographies of formerly enslaved local men who signed up to fight for their freedom as a part of the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War and now are buried at Mount Olive. The program is free of charge and open to all ages.
Here is a Mayor McMillan’s full proclamation:
Proclamation
Black History Month
WHEREAS, During Black History Month, we celebrate the many achievements and
contributions made by African Americans to our economic, cultural, spiritual
and political development; and
WHEREAS, In 1915, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, founded the Association for the Study of
African American Life and History. Dr. Woodson initiated Black History Week,
February 12, 1926; and for many years, the second week of February; and
WHEREAS, In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, Black History Week was expanded
and became established as Black History Month, and is now celebrated all over
North America; and
WHEREAS, Each year during Black History Month, the people of Clarksville recognize the
vision of Pastor Jimmy Terry, Sr. and other honorable citizens of Clarksville and
surrounding communities to establish a Clarksville Black History Month
Committee to recognize the efforts, achievements and ingenuity of African-
Americans; and
WHEREAS, On February 1st, 2018, the Clarksville Black History Month Committee is holding
an opening ceremony for Black History Month at the Customs House Museum to
celebrate the beginning of a month of sharing and reflecting on the hardships,
joys and triumphs of African Americans.
Now, Therefore, I, Kim McMillan, Mayor of the City of Clarksville, do hereby proclaim February 2018, as Black History Month and recognize the Clarksville Black History Month Committee for their efforts in celebrating Black History Month in Clarksville.
Kim McMillan, City Mayor
Sylvia Skinner, City Clerk
