Men and women of all ethnic backgrounds came together Feb. 21 for a luncheon to celebrate Black History Month.
The luncheon began with opening remarks by Staff Sgt. Pete A. Stokes, equal opportunity advisor, MCRD Parris Island/Eastern Recruiting Region.
After the opening remarks, the audience was invited to eat lunch. While Navy Lt. Arthur L. Wiggins, Jr., chaplain, Headquarters and Service Battalion, and guest speaker for the event, greeted the audience and gave an educational and moving speech.
Wiggins began by asking the audience, "How do we celebrate Black History Month?"
He then went on to give a history of how Black History Month came to be.
Black History Month was originally Negro History Week, which was started by Carter G. Woodson in 1926, said Wiggins. Fifty years later, Negro History Week was changed to a full month of celebration that is now known as Black History Month, in honor of Frederick Douglass, abolitionist and escaped slave, and Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States.
"The mere imparting of information is not education," quoted Wiggins. "Above all things, the effort must result in making us think and making us do."
Wiggins also said the purpose of Black History Month is to educate the nation as a whole until it is seen as American history.
After speaking on the intent and purpose of Black History Month, Wiggins touched on the topic of slavery, but not just on physical slavery. Wiggins explained mental slavery, which he said is manifested by fear and caused by a lack of education.
"How does [a child] reconcile that whites and blacks are equal?," asked Wiggins. "If I am told by the powers that be that I have a greater likelihood of going to prison than to college, don't be surprised if I don't apply myself in high school. Many Americans are second and third generation mental slaves who do not know any other way of thinking, and we must break them of those binds."
After the luncheon, organizers had many good things to say about the event.
"I liked the turn out and the diversity of the crowd," said Stokes. I also liked the support of the senior leadership. I do wish more individuals had been there to hear the chaplain's speech. It was very educational and moving."