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black history month UAW celebrates diversity at GM
By Jordan Cohen
LORDSTOWN
The sounds emanating from the West Plant at General Motors on Wednesday were not those usually associated with the car fabrication that takes place in the facility.
Instead, the rhythmic and pulsating beat of African drums along with girls and young women performing African dances echoed through the Metals Center as the plant as United Auto Workers Local 1714 hosted ceremonies in honor of Black History Month.
The celebration marked the second annual observance for the West Plant. The neighboring East Plant and fellow union members of UAW Local 1112 have hosted similar festivities for several years.
“Diversity of this complex allows us to be as great as we really are,” said Bob Parcell, Lordstown plant manager. “People make this happen.”
Posters prominently displayed the achievements of black leaders, writers and women, the latter of particular interest for Sherry Gaunt, local vice president. She is the first African-American to hold that position in the local. She also is the first woman to be vice president. “Our history was omitted from our history books, but we have been inventors, legislators and now a president of the United States,” Gaunt said. “I feel like we are actually Americans.”
“If we remain as one, we’ll never repeat the past,” said Will Adams, local shop chairman.
One of the major themes of the event was African heritage, exemplified by the performance of the Harambee dancers and drummers from Youngstown’s New Bethel Baptist Church. The dancers wore colorful black, orange and green wraps called lapas and performed to the throbbing beat of drums known as djembe that are handmade in West Africa.
Parcell said the observance also highlights the success of Lordstown that goes beyond diversity of races and religions.
“There’s diversity of thought with people of different backgrounds bringing different ideas,” Parcell said. “We’re open to any idea regardless of who brings it up.”
Samson Murry, member of the local and its first chaplain, echoed that sentiment as he delivered the invocation.
“Thank you for the Lords-town plant and the positive things happening around our nation,” Murry said.