MOULTRIE — The Boys and Girls Club of Moultrie celebrated Black History Month by putting on an event at its different sites, Moultrie Main Unit, Moultrie Housing Authority, Berlin Youth Center, and R.D. Smith Teen Center.

The Moultrie Main Unit started its program off by explaining the origins of Black History Month. Carter G. Woodson started Black History Month as a way to promote the study and celebration of Black American history. The month of February was chosen because of the birthday of abolitionist and author Frederick Douglass.

The students of the Boys and Girls club were instrumental in putting on the Black History Month event. A club member, Royal, recited Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech. Following the speech, another club member, Raegan, recited the poem “Hey Black Child.” She encouraged her fellow students to know how important they were and that they could be what they wanted to be.

Out of privacy concerns, the club declined to provide the children’s last names.

“I felt the event went great. I’m proud of all the participants and staff,” said Program Director Lateegra Fiveash.

The students also showcased the different important people they learned about through the segment “Black American iconic figures,” acting and reciting speeches from historical people like George Washington Carver and Muhammad Ali. They finished off their event by having club members Jourdyn and Tamar recite “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou.

“Black History is important because I get to learn of my culture,” said club member Jourdyn.

The Moultrie Housing Authority club started its event off with “Stand Up,” one of the choreographed dance routines by Kelvin Clay Jr. Then, they did a “freedom” performance. A tribute performance was also done with club members playing the roles of musicians T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chill in the music group, TLC. Some of the historical figures that they performed, as well, were Malcom X, Hattie McDaniel, and Coretta Scott King.

The club members also showcased Black history and culture through their “I AM” monologues. Following up with the performance, “They Not Like Us,” which was a dance performance to the award-winning record “They Not Like Us” by artist Kendrick Lamar, they ended the event with a “Farewell” song. Youth Development Leaders Hope Edwards and Patricia Sneed put together the event at the Moultrie Housing Authority.

At the R.D. Smith Teen Center, the students each picked a Black historical figure who was an inventor. They wrote up interesting facts about the person they chose. Then, they spoke about them and the importance their invention was to society.

At the Berlin Youth Center the students stood up and also spoke on important historical figures throughout Black American history.