Event at Bon Secours Hospital closes out Petersburg's Black History Month celebrations

“African Americans And The Arts” event at Petersburg's Bon Secours - Southside Medical Center closes out City's Black History Month celebrations

The Bon Secours - Southside Medical Center in Petersburg had an “African Americans And The Arts” Black History Month event on Thursday to recognize and celebrate the Black community’s contributions to the arts.

Attended by hospital staff, patients and community members alike, the event was organized by Assistant Chief Nursing Officer and head of the Black History Committee Dr. Octavia Wynn.

The event, which had multiple speakers and performers from the community, included displays of authentic African art and clothing as well as African-inspired artwork by fourth grade and daycare students.

The event started off with a welcome from Dr. Wynn and opening remarks from the president of the hospital, Dr. Brenda Woodcock. Their remarks were followed by a community moment led by Larry Akin Smith, the secretary of the Petersburg branch of the NAACP, who directed attendees to a booth where they could register to vote. Smith spoke on the power and transformative nature of Black art in the face of adversity.

“Black art has been attacked over the years by a racist system that has worked to diminish the value of our art and to erase the power that Black artists create,” said Smith. “Enslaved Africans were stripped of their drums and other traditional instruments. We were stripped of our language, our culture and our very way of life.”

“But through it all, we have persevered,” Smith added. “We have regained our momentum. And we continue to maintain our cadence, our structure as a people and our sound of life.”

Smith’s remarks were followed by multiple presenters from the hospital and the community, among them a performance by the Petersburg High School Choir, a Praise Dance by the Zion Apostolic Temple, a Jamboree Fitness class, a mental health awareness talk by the hospital’s Behavioral Health Clinical Team, an inspirational moment led by Pastor Diggs of the Tabernacle Baptist Church and others.

Mayor Samuel Parham delivered closing remarks at the event, emphasizing the importance of celebrating and upholding Black culture, history and art not just during Black History Month but every day of the year.

“Today is a prime example of how important it is for all of us to get together to tell these stories and to recognize all of the great work that African Americans have done and are still doing,” said Parham. “So let's keep pushing that next generation of talent that's coming up now to keep fulfilling Dr. King's mission.”

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: African Americans And The Arts event at Bon Secours Hospital