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

Today: 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, 570 Sherwood Ave. Youngstown.

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.