Macajah Brown, D.R.E.A.M.S. CEO
Area residents will be able to celebrate and learn local African-American history at the first annual African-American Black History Expo this Saturday at the HACC Midtown parking lot.
Vendors, caterers and local business owners will come together for this event hosted by D.R.E.A.M.S. Minority Business Network. Attendees will participate in kickball, face-painting, a boxing exhibition and a chance to dunk Mayor Eric Papenfuse in a dunk tank to benefit the Harrisburg Baby Cougars Football Team, said Macajah Brown, D.R.E.A.M.S. CEO and Harrisburg native.
“My ancestors are crying and our young people are dying because of a lack of [knowing] black history,” Brown said.
After years of seeing Harrisburg’s need for a black history and culture event, Brown said that Black History Month motivated him to start this event. When he asked students at Rowland and Scott schools about their school’s namesakes, he said many students did not know the schools were named after prominent local African-American leaders.
Last December Brown decided to take on the project himself. Now, he said, the event will be his proudest accomplishment, aside from graduating college.
“This is six months of God’s work coming together,” Brown said. “I’ve been like a little kid in a candy store.”
Each hour, different masters of ceremony, including ABC27’s Janel Knight and Fox43’s Chris Garrett, will discuss topics ranging from spirituality to government.
Ancestors of prominent black community leaders will speak about their family histories and the importance of remembering those who have passed. Ancestry researcher Darlene Colon will be available to field questions about one’s own family history.
Brown said he encourages those of all ethnicities to come and hopes that this event gives residents a chance to learn about African-American challenges and triumphs.
“This event is about the love of being who you are and the love for your family,” Brown said. “I’ve got to instill this in younger people”
The African-American Black History Expo will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 10 at HACC Midtown’s parking lots on 4th and Reily streets. The event is free.
Author: Allison Moody
