Black history events set for Saturday

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 19, 2010

NATCHEZ — Participating in the 14th annual Black History Month parade Saturday requires only one task this year — showing up.

Darrell White, director of the Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro-American Culture, said the parade registration process has been waived this year due to time constraints.

White said the parade will begin at 3 p.m. on Broadway Street. Lineup will begin at 1 p.m. The parade route will travel along Broadway Street, Main Street, Franklin Street and end at the corner of Franklin and Martin Luther King Jr. streets.

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“(The parade) is an opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the African-American community here in the Miss-Lou and throughout our nation,” White said. “Come out and join in the celebration.”

The community will continue to celebrate Black History Saturday when the Natchez-Adams County Legacy Committee hosts its first-ever Black History Month Celebration at 7 p.m. at the Natchez Convention Center.

The celebration will honor five citizens who have positively impacted the community, Former Natchez Mayor and Committee Chairman Phillip West said.

The honorees include Adams County Supervisor Thomas “Boo” Campbell, Election Commissioner Katye Dukes, businessman Robert Johnson Sr., former head start director Mamie Mazique and former Justice Court Judge Mary Toles.

“All five persons have contributed in a positive way for more than 40 years to the Natchez-Adams County community, and all five of them have had a impact on literally thousands of people,” West said. “We want to acknowledge and celebrate their lives while they live.”

The keynote speaker will be State Rep. Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg, chairman of the Mississippi House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee.

For more information, call 601-445-0728.