History flying high at Edwards Air Force Base
Black soldiers in the Civil War
Black History Month is in full swing and there is much going on around the city in observance of those who paved a way not only for African Americans but the world. Each year on Edward’s Air Force Base, civilian workers and military personnel take their families and guests on a journey through time to reflect and learn about Black history.
Thania Alexander, chairwoman for the Black History Month events, is excited to get the show on the road. She and her team of volunteers and co-workers are dedicating much of their time to enlightening members of the base community about the great things African Americans have achieved, particularly during the Civil War.
“Our overall message is to raise awareness and to celebrate the service of the African American soldiers during the Civil War,” she said.
It’s customary for different organizations on the base to host a new observance every year, and this year Alexander and her team are running the show for the first time. What they have in store is quite unique, including a movie screening of “Glory,” a fictional depiction of the Civil War, starring Denzel Washington. Juniors and seniors at Desert High School will be bused to the theater to watch the movie and discuss it when they arrive back in their classrooms. Also, students at the elementary and junior high levels will be contributing their artistic work on African American soldiers to a base-wide art display.
To wrap up the month, there will be a luncheon at the base dining facility with guest speaker Jamaal Brown, a Black history speaker and creator of the Black365.us calendar. He will discuss contributions of Africans and African Americans to the revolutionary spirit before and after the Civil War. Guests can also expect to be wowed by the Boys in Christ Mime Ministry. The group will be performing praise dance and mime.
Although the public is not formally invited to the event, those interested in getting involved may contact Alexander at (661) 277-2537 or Torri Mckay at (661) 277-2006.
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Think Paris, and the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées and haute couture come to mind. But the City of Light also is rich in African American history. Keeping this history alive are tour companies that share it, up close and personal, with visitors to France.
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Rhodes was specially selected by the BBA’s president, Earl “Skip” Cooper II, who himself will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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