NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
DLA Distribution’s Multicultural Committee celebrated the culture, traditions and history of African Americans with a program held Tuesday, Feb. 26. This year’s theme is “Black Migrations.”
The Black Migration, was the movement of six million African-Americans out of the rural Southern United States to the urban Northeast, Midwest, and West that occurred between 1916 and 1970.
The program opened with Betty Joyner and Yonda Spradley performing the National Anthem, followed by an invocation by Marlon Carter, supply management specialist with Distribution Headquarters. As well as a video explaining Black Migrations.
DLA Distribution commanding officer Navy Rear Adm. Kevin M. Jones welcomed everyone in attendance, “It is hard for me to follow the video about the heroes who have walked before us. That video brings to life the theme of this year’s annual celebration, and emphasizes the movement of people of African descent to new destinations and social realities.”
Jones introduced Ramona French, chief of Distributions Future Plans Integration Division who performed two poems, one she personally wrote and the other written by Langston Hughes. Casaya Achampong accompanied her on the bongos as she recited each poem.
Joyner and Spradley took the stage for a second time to perform a song that led into French’s presentation of the Langston Hughes poem.
Following the presentation, Jones rejoined everyone on stage and presented certificates of appreciation. He presented French with the first-ever DLA Distribution Multicultural Committee appreciation plaque.