The opening celebration was a "Quiz Bowl" challenge between HUD and Social Security Administration employees that tested their knowledge of African-American history. In this fun but competitive event, HUD employees won the day, which gave them official bragging rights as "2002 Quiz Bowl Champions."

Other entertaining events that attracted a crowd and helped reinforce the educational goals of the month included a viewing of the movies Men of Honor and The Tuskegee Airman, which were real-life portrayals of African-Americans. To make the movie experience complete, employees even provided popcorn for everyone's enjoyment.

A precocious first-grader, Travis Newell, received a certificate for his writing, which honored Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and another celebration included a storyteller from the county library, who spent an hour reading great African-American folk tales.

Everyone enjoys good music, and African Americans have made an indelible mark on American music - so one of the Black History Month events was "Motown Records and the History of Pop Music in America," an interesting and informative workshop presented by Professor Jim Burns from the University of South Carolina.

On a more serious note, a special forum discussed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous April 16, 1963 "Letter From a Birmingham Jail." Panelists included, Mr. Warren Bolton, Associate Editor, The State Newspaper; Rev. Ronnie Brailsford, Sr., Pastor, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church; Rev. Dr. Lewis F. Galloway, Pastor, Shandon Presbyterian Church; Rev. Mack C. McClam,Pastor, Francis Burns United Methodist Church and Ms. Sarah McCrory, Church Activist, St. Martin's in the Fields Episcopal Church.