The Dr. Carter G. Woodson Lyceum at Marshall University kicked off Black History Month Friday with a special online event featuring guest speaker Dr. Teresa Eagle, dean of Marshall’s College of Education and Professional Development and a former schoolteacher. The virtual event also included the unveiling of the 2022 Black History Poster Competition winners and announced the 2022 Teachers Institute for Black History, which is supported through a grant from the West Virginia Humanities Council and will welcome teachers in June.
The Dr. Carter G. Woodson Lyceum and Marshall’s Center for African American Students have several events planned this year in recognition of Black History Month, ranging from lectures to dramatic readings to tours of Huntington’s Black history, cooking demonstrations, genealogy workshops, the Ebony Ball and much more.
Among the many activities are the Annual Dr. Carter G. Woodson Lecture on Feb. 18, supported by the Drinko Academy. The topic is “Understanding Tulsa.” John W. Franklin will discuss the papers of his grandfather, Buck Franklin, a prominent lawyer who represented survivors of the “Black Wall Street” massacre in the 1920s. On Feb. 21, Dr. William Turner will discuss “The Appalachian Origins of the Modern Civil Rights Movement.” Turner is an author and diversity consultant, and retired distinguished professor of Black and Appalachian studies from Berea College.
Set for Feb 25 is “Black Physicians in the Union Army in the War of the Rebellion,” a discussion with Dr. Esly Caldwell, a Cincinnati physician and researcher. Dr. Leonard White, a physician and assistant dean of the Marshall University School of Medicine, also will discuss concerns about local residents’ health and wellness.
A full list of activities is at www.marshall.edu/blackhistorymonth.
Poster contest winners:
The topic of this year’s Black History Poster Competition was Black Health and Wellness. The official first place winner received a $200 prize, with K-12 winners receiving $100 prizes, and their teachers getting $50 prizes.
Eagle, a former high school math teacher, reminded the student winners of the art competition of how they can impact those around them.
“My challenge to you is to think clearly about what you do, think, believe and what you’re passionate about and put that out there in how you behave, the things that you do, the work that you turn in, the pictures you draw, the way that you talk with your friends or your teachers or your parents,” she said. “You never know how something you do or say or think is going to make someone kinder, be more understanding of the world around them or the problems that other people have, or motivate them to do something that will make a difference in the world, and it started with you.”
Marshall University President Brad D. Smith celebrated with the students as well.
“I am excited to see the art and creativity that you have brought forth today, and I’m excited about the theme,” Smith told the student winners. “It reminds us not only of what has happened in the past, but what is possible in the future.
“… I’m a big believer in what we’re doing now and what we’re celebrating this month because if not for all the amazing men and women that we celebrate during Black History Month, we would not be the school we are, we would not be the nation we are, we would not be the world we are.”
The winners include the following:
First Place
Jacob Wood, MU senior
The first place winning poster that became the Official 2022 Black History Month Poster of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Lyceum was created by Marshall senior Jacob Wood, who is working toward a double major in Advertising/Public Relations and Graphic Design, with a minor in Creative Writing.
“I really wanted to use this poster as a spotlight to shine on an individual who has done a lot of good for the health and wellness community. I began doing research on various African American medical professionals that have contributed to the betterment of society and medical advancements,” Wood said. “There were countless options to choose from! … I cannot stress enough how hard it was to narrow down one individual to focus on. After a lot of pondering, I decided to honor Dr. Patricia Bath (1942-2019). As someone who personally has struggled with vision problems, the works of Dr. Bath hit very close to home. Dr. Bath was the woman who invented the Laserphaco Scope, a critical invention that was essential in the advancement of treatment in cataract surgery. She was a strong advocate for the prevention of sight-related illnesses and conditions.”
Merit Award
- Nicole Carey, a senior who is working toward her B.F.A. in Graphic Design, senior.
- Peyton Dolin, a senior working on a B.F.A. in Sculpture
High School Competition
First Place
Lyric Smith, 9th Grade, Huntington High School; Teacher: Sarah Black
“Preparing to make my poster, I learned more about the poor housing and lack of health check-ups. When making the poster I tried to incorporate all of the issues including those to spread awareness for people who live their lives that way. After making this poster, I hope that people can see it and want to help people who are less fortunate …”
Merit Award
Stevie Culbreth, 10th Grade, Huntington High School; Teacher: Marisa Main
Middle School Competition
First Place
Harper Armentrout, 8th Grade, Barboursville Middle School; Teacher: Molly Fisher
“During this project, I learned knowledge about the immense struggles that African-American health care workers have gone through, as well as the impact they have made. I learned how these influential, yet largely unrecognized people, came to change the health system so greatly. I researched the struggles in obtaining equal education for people of various ethnic groups. I found it very inspirational that, against much adversity, the health field is slowly becoming a field in which people of all races can succeed.”
Merit Award
Jillian Castle, 7th Grade, Barboursville Middle School: Teacher: Molly Fisher
Elementary School Competition
First Place (Tie)
Nevaeh Hayes, 4th Grade, Meadows Elementary; Teacher: Charity Baker
“I started thinking about researching something to do that would go with black health and wellness. Then I had the idea of several things (that go with Black health and wellness), including working out, making sure to eat healthy, doctors taking care of you and how mental health is important as well. … It all came together and I think it shows everything I wanted to include.”
Ashton Schultz, 5th Grade, Southside Elementary; Teacher: Courtney Arnold
“Before I made my drawing, I used my iPad to research important people from history (who) impacted health and wellness for Black Americans. That’s when I learned that health and wellness wasn’t always equal. I learned about many of the pioneers of both (Black) health and wellness … I think that anyone should be able to have the same treatments and equal access to good health care. Everyone is equal no matter what the race.”
The poster contest is held annually by The Dr. Carter G. Woodson Lyceum, which is directed by Burnis Morris, a professor of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall.
The Woodson Lyceum has been helping educators integrate Black history into school curricula since 2016 and serves as a forum that provides opportunities to address this and other education issues, including race and a free press, in ways inspired by Woodson’s teachings. Woodson was a Huntington educator and West Virginia coal miner who is recognized as the Father of Black History.
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Image: The winning poster by Marshall University senior Jacob Wood.