BLACK HISTORY MONTH | Scheduled events

February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time to recognize the central role of blacks in U.S. history. Below is a list of events as submitted to The Vindicator:

MAHONING COUNTY

Today: Ted Toles, a black baseball player who played in the Negro League, and others, 4 p.m. at Beulah Baptist Church, 570 Sherwood Ave., Youngstown. There will be a film on the players and a short clip on their lives and how they made a difference for all U.S. black people.

Today: Oak Missionary Baptist Church, 320 Elk St., will host its annual Black History Program at 3:30 p.m. A dinner will be served before the program.

Monday: Black and Jewish in America, 6 to 8 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown. Contact: Jacob Labenz, 330-941-1603.

Monday: At Poland Library, 311 S. Main St., at 6:30 p.m., learn more about potato-chip inventor George Crum, a chef of American Indian and black American origin. Learn about his life, the history of the chip, and have a taste testing. For the whole family. Registration is required.

Tuesday: At East Library, 430 Early Road, at 6 p.m., celebrate Black History Month with a special story time. After the fun, make a peace wreath. For children of all ages.

Thursday: Black Student Retention Series: Keynote speaker Dr. Emma Fraser Pendleton, 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., Kilcawley, Ohio Room at YSU.

Thursday: Leonne Hudson, Ph.D., associate professor of history at Kent State University, speaks at 4 p.m. at Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor (Steel Museum), 151 W. Wood St., Youngstown. His topic: “The Reaction of African Americans to Lincoln’s Assassination.” His presentation is free.

Friday: Taft Elementary School, 730 E. Avondale Ave., celebrates black history from 9 to 11 a.m. Open to the public. Greeting by Youngstown City Schools CEO Krish Mohip and Mayor Jamael Tito Brown. Special performance by Harambee African dancers.

Saturday: Mount Hope Veterans Memorial Park Inc. invites the public to celebrate Black History Month at Reed’s Chapel A.M.E. Church, 1939 Jacobs Road, Youngstown, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors will be present. Program at noon. Refreshments will be served.

Feb. 25: The Rev. Henry McNeil of Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church will speak on the civil rights movement in the 1960s, where we are now and what we need to be doing in the future, 4 p.m., Beulah Baptist Church.

Trumbull county

Saturday: Sutliff Museum, 444 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren, will host a winter open house from 1 to 4 p.m. to celebrate Black History Month. A reading of “Freedom River” by Doreen Rappaport will take place at 2 p.m. For information, visit www.sutliffmuseum.org or call 330-395-6575.

Saturday: The Black History Festival of the Arts gospel play “Hidden Temptations,” written by Jeff and Lannette Gordon, to be performed at 7 p.m. at Trumbull Community Action Program building, 1230 Palmyra Road SW. Cost is $10. Other events at the festival, which runs through Saturday, are free.