Installation to spotlight African-American women during observance

By Tim Cherry, Belvoir EagleFebruary 2, 2012

Fort Belvoir celebrates women of African-American descent with an interactive skit, food tasting and a guest speaker during its celebration of Black History Month, Feb. 14, at the Fort Belvoir Officers' Club.

The Equal Opportunity Office hosts the observance, which is free and open to the public beginning at 11:45 a.m.

The event features authentic African-American cuisine and a speech from Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Alston, U.S. Strategic Command senior enlisted leader.

The EOO invites people to attend and learn about the struggles and triumphs of black Americans.

"It's important that we celebrate one another from different backgrounds and these different cultures, because when we do that … we're able to embrace our similarities," said Sgt. 1st Class Felicia Alston, senior EOO advisor, organizer for the event and wife of the guest speaker.

"We're all pretty much the same in that we celebrate people who work hard, people who strive to make it for their Family and who work hard for America."

This year's theme is Black Women in American Culture and History. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History urges Americans to learn about the contributions that women such as Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks made to the country.

The EOO advisor said she likes to share the stories of the people she's known who have overcome struggles and have laid foundations for others to be able to walk on a smoother path toward their destinies.

One person Felicia admires is her mother who was born in 1933 and endured the struggles of segregation while raising seven children.

Felicia said her mother's hard work and loving personality inspires her to put forth her best effort everyday.

Felicia is also very fond of her husband, who she said displays a passion for his work unlike any other servicemember.

"He's the kind of leader that will think about the mission and the people around him before his best interest," Felicia said. "He believes the Army is only as good as the people that it helps."

Felicia said Patrick is highlighting the achievements of a few African-American women during his speech in honor of this year's theme at Belvoir's observance.

N & R productions is also honoring the subject matter by portraying prominent black women during a entertainment skit that Felicia ensures will engage the audience.

Felicia said examining women during Black History Month is a unique scenario because it precedes the Women's History Month celebration in March.

According to the Library of Congress's africanamericanhistory.gov website, Black History Month traces back to 1915 when Harvard trained historian Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, an "organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by black Americans and other peoples of African descent."

ASNLH sponsored Negro History week in 1926 which eventually evolved into a month-long celebration in 1976 when President Gerald Ford asked Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."

Each president has since then recognized February as Black History Month and endorsed a theme created by ASNLH.

Call (703) 805-2288 for more information.