Celebrate Black History Month

SACRAMENTO - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the California Department of Education will celebrate Black History Month with the display of two exhibits and a performance by a world-renowned choir this week.

            "African Americans have made great sacrifices and amazing contributions to our country," said O'Connell. "All of us should take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey they have taken from the shameful days of slavery 400 years ago to the momentous election last year of the first African American president. I invite everyone to enjoy a free exhibit and performance at the California Department of Education this week that will take viewers through this journey."

            Asale Kimaada of Livermore created Grandmothers Who Help, Inc. after realizing there were few black history programs available in public schools. She put together a traveling pictorial exhibit of black history called, "African American History from Antiquity to Present Times." That exhibit will be on display February 25 at CDE headquarters, 1430 N Street in Sacramento.

Sacramento resident Cary Jung founded the Obama Political Items Collectors last year after determining intense interest among collectors nationwide in the history-making campaign of Barack Obama. Jung has collected political memorabilia since 1964 and currently has more than 1,200 pieces of Obama political memorabilia. His exhibit will also be on display February 25 at CDE.

The Crenshaw Elite Choir will perform at CDE the following day on February 26. This world-renowned group of young singers from Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles has toured the world and performed before royalty, government officials, foreign leaders, and entertainers. Under the leadership of Professor Iris Stevenson at the school, they won the gold medal in the gospel and spiritual category at the 2006 World Choir Games in China. The movie "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit" was inspired by the accomplishments of Stevenson and the Choir.

The Black History Month activities are being organized by CDE volunteers Cecelia Wilson, who works in the Data Management Division, and Katherine Gales, who is in the School and District Operations Branch.

The CDE Web site offers many references for parents and educators who wish to learn more about black history at www.cde.ca.gov/ci/hs/im/. For more information on Grandmothers Who Help, Inc., please visit www.grandmotherswhohelp.com. For more information on the Obama Political Items Collectors, please visit www.opic.home.comcast.net.