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The West Point city council is hosting a Black History Program on Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m. ET. The event will take place at the West Point Gymnasium at 1201 Avenue D. The event is sponsored by the West Point Police Department. 

“We all come together on this date every year to celebrate each other,” said Sandra Thornton West Point Councilmember.

This year they will not have a keynote speaker. However, the council has invited local schools to come and do presentations, bring art, or simply celebrate Black History with them. Some of Point University’s students will be recognized for their community service or leadership. 

The schools participating so far are Point University, West Point Elementary, Callaway, Springwood, the Innovation  Station, and the Chattahoochee Learning Center. 

Thornton is expecting some schools to sing or recite poems for the audience. West Point Elementary often brings some of the student’s artwork to the event, as well. 

Every year, an individual is given the Donald Gilliam Community Service Award. Gillum was a longtime council member for the city. This year it will be given to Christopher “CJ” Tucker.

“He does back-to-school backpack and Easter giveaways. Recently he gave cleaning supplies to the seniors in West Point. He has helped some that have been in need…. I mean, he does quite a bit and he has been doing this for a number of years,” Thornton said. 

Each of the City Council members will take part in the event, honoring businesses or people in the community. 

“The West Point program, we always celebrate all races, because it takes all of us to do the work that our Father has for us to do,” Thornton said.

The program is often centered around the children and younger people in the community. Thornton emphasized the importance of celebrating our children.

“We use this time as an opportunity to showcase our children in the community, all of their accomplishments or anything that they’ve done, even if it’s a child that just needs encouragement,” Thornton reiterated… The children of course are our future and it’s not about any of us.”