Ms. Brenda Bines Watson(far right), Chairperson of the Goose Creek Education Committee, led the NAACP members and program attendees in the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing".

    A group of nearly one hundred gathered for the Goose Creek NAACP Black History program that was held at the Berkeley Electric Co-op building this past Monday. Community leaders and members,  students and teachers along with the NAACP were all on hand for the annual occassion.

    The theme of the program, “At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington”, set the tone for the event as Tristen Daniels, a Charter Member of Goose Creek NAACP Branch, led the invocation to start the program with a powerful message. Goose Creek Mayor  Michael Heitzler was in attendance to welcome the crowd.

   There was a feeling in the room of unity as everyone rejoiced as Goose Creek NAACP Education Committee Chairperson Dr. Brenda Bines led the group in the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.

   The most entertaining moments of the program came when it was time for the youth to express theirselves in their own way for Black History Month. T’uana Prioleau, a 4th Grader at Joseph P. Rye Elementary School, electrified the crowd with her performance as she did her impression of Coretta Scott King. She kept the crowd on their toes with her strong words and enthusiasm.

   Uzuri Boatwright, a senior at Goose Creek High School, also had a powerful message as she honored Rosa Parks with a speech of her own.

  During the event, the U.S. Postal Service unveild two stamps, one of Rosa Parks and a stamp marking the sesquicentennial of the the Emancipation Proclamation. Harry Spratlin, Communications Coordinator of the Greater South Carolina District U.S. Postal Service was also in attendance and made a few remarks.

 John McCants was presented with an award from NAACP Chairman John Matthews during the event. Michael Allen of the NPS was also in attendance representing the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor and the National Park Service.