St. Rita's Medical Center is honoring Black History Month with performances by local artists. Registration Clerk and EKG Technician, Ivy Allen, organized for musicians to play in St. Rita's Medical Center lobby this week and next week to honor the month. Local musician, Chuck Sommers played Thursday, and members of Allen's church, Philippians Missionary Baptist, will sing in the coming days.
Allen says she hopes these performances remind people of the importance of Black History Month. "Well, it's good for every area, even the hospital and your jobs, to know what's going on, and it also informs people of what we've done in the past, our ancestors," said Allen, "Music is always good, it's soothing for the soul and it's just healing, you always need music."
Black History Month honors the contributions and achievements of African Americans in the United States. According to www.history.com, Black History Month was started as a week-long celebration in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a historian, scholar, educator, and publisher. In 1976 it was extended to a month in February to honor the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln in the same month.
Allen does not have times for the other performers yet, but says she will finalize those soon.
