Community Corner
Black History Month Celebration Highlights Inventions, Creativity and Cuisine
For the 37th straight year, the Afro-American Cultural and Historical Society honored history, the arts — and great cooking!
A diverse crowd celebrated Black History Month in Newark Saturday with traditional African American singing, hearty food and shopping for handmade crafts.
The Afro-American Cultural and Historical Society held its annual Tri-City Black History Month celebration at the Newark Community Center on Feb. 12, focusing on the theme "African Americans and the Civil War." The event ran from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Varied and unique items, many of them handmade, beckoned shoppers. One booth sold lovely handbags and T-shirts with black doll faces that reflected the diversity among skin tones.
Find out what's happening in Newarkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The many food booths offered items from pickles to desserts. Pots to Jars, run by Charlotte Coleman, specializes in canned goods: from peppers pickled in vinegar to cha-cha, pickled vegetables in a highly seasoned mustard sauce. If a patron wanted a snack, pecans and fruit were also available.
"I only use what's in season," Coleman said. "Nothing frozen. I like making quality food."
Find out what's happening in Newarkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Two other booths had cakes — lemon, red velvet, pound cake —and pies for sale. A whole German chocolate cake was available at Paulie's Sweetshop, while Cakes on Wheels offered cupcakes for those who wanted something smaller.
Other booths sold skin products, traditional African clothing, figurines, books and pictures.
A display of African American inventions was presented by R.J. Reed.
The Soul Food Kitchen served up fried chicken and fish, spaghetti with beef or turkey, garlic rolls and macaroni salad. Hot dogs, chips and sodas lured the children in attendance.
"I do this every year," said Lorraine Palmer, head cook. "I usually do soul food dinners—greens and cornbread. I did this three years in a row, then took a break. They called me back for this year." She expected to feed 60 to 70 people during the day.
Patrons also enjoyed afternoon entertainment from the Adewole Boys' Choir, the Bay Area Christian Connection and the South Bay Children's Choir. Bill Douglas read a selection from his book Pretty Much Dead, and Bethel Baptist Church presented their praise dancers.
Other performers included the Freedom Voice Singers, Genesis Methodist Church and KM-2.
