Celebrating black history, past, present, and future

photo credit, Michelle Johnsen Photography

Black history is American history, and local Black history is the history of Lancaster County.

Each and every Black History Month greets us with inspiring stories from across the country. Lancaster County is rich with these stories as well, and they continue to be written every day throughout our extraordinary community.

As an organization and a community, we are continuing to share, learn, and amplify ways and stories to celebrate; a history of courage and resilience against injustice and systemic racism, of joy and family, and of a commitment to building new ways of community care. Learning and celebrating not only an inspiring past and present, but a vision of the future.

As a community, we honor the legacy of community elders like Nelson Polite Sr., and Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El, whose fearless work challenged long-held and oppressive institutions and norms, and helped our community to grow immeasurably. And we look to the future with them, at the Black history being made every day in our community, and supporting the next generation of voices and leaders as we build a new narrative together.