Black History Month events
Thursday10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day at SETHRA Transit, 740 E. 12th St., second floor conference room. Ellyahnna W-Hall, author of “Following Butterflies” is the guest speaker. Free lunch served.6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jazzanooga offers a documentary series at the Jazzanooga office at 431 M.L. King Blvd.Saturday10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Alana Simmons, whose grandfather was killed at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., will speak at a youth conference at New Monumental Baptist Church.Feb. 136 p.m. The Rev. Ernest Reid Jr. will speak at Second Missionary Baptist Church 30th Black History BanquetFeb. 27.4 p.m. 100 Black Men of Chattanooga sponsors its fourth annual African-American History Challenge BowlFeb. 276 p.m. Sounds of Unity choir performs at Abba’s House, located at 5208 Hixson Pike. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Herman’s Soul Food Restaurant on Brainerd Road, the Abba’s House bookstore on Hixson Pike and online at www.eventbrite.com. The Rev. Paul McDaniel and Franklin McCallie will be honored at the event.
Poverty would not exist in Chattanooga if the city followed the Bible's instruction to eliminate it, Concerned Citizens For Justice organizer Ash Lee Woodard Henderson told an audience this week.
"If anyone is poor among you, do not be hardhearted or tight-fisted toward them," she said. "Rather be open-handed and freely lend them whatever they need Then because of this the Lord your God will bless you and everything you put your hand to."
Henderson was speaking to dozens of people Sunday at Eastdale Village Community United Methodist Church's Black Lives Matter event. She also addressed concerns about prisons and police.
The talk was the first of a host of local activities planned to celebrate Black History Month.
Alana Simmons, whose grandfather Daniel Simmons was killed at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., on June 17, will speak at a Youth In Our Culture conference at New Monumental Baptist Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Jazzanooga offers a documentary series from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday this month at the Jazzanooga office. And 100 Black Men of Chattanooga sponsors its 4th Annual African- American History Challenge Bowl at 4 p.m. Feb. 27 at UTC.
In light of the struggles in the black community, it is important to celebrate victories that shape history, said the Rev. Ernest Reid Jr., pastor of Second Missionary Baptist Church. Reid will speak at the 30th Black History Banquet celebrating African-American Faith and Family at the church at 6 p.m. on Feb. 13.
"You have to create and celebrate your own narrative, because if you don't others will create a narrative for you," he said.
Henderson said Sunday that the method for alleviating poverty is in Deuteronomy 15 in what is called the Jubilee scriptures.
She said Verse 1 states that at the end of every seven years, everyone should cancel debts. Verse 2 says this is how it's to be done: Every creditor should cancel any loan made to his neighbor. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people because the Lord's time of canceling debts has been proclaimed.
"We could live in, and we deserve to live in, a city that prioritizes the care of working class and cash-poor people in our city," she said.
Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.