U.S. Naval Base (NBG) Guam’s Multicultural Committee sponsored an African-American History Month ceremony for its military and civilian personnel in front of the Navy Exchange (NEX) in Santa Rita Feb. 22.
Lt. Col. Lorenzo Ray Phillips from the Joint Force Headquarters for the U.S. Army and Air Guam National Guard attended the event and said he thought African-American History Month is important to recognize as it sheds light on the past as it relates to current issues.
“It’s not just black history month, but the issues that people faced back then we some of those pieces happening here today,” he said. “We all need to recognize when we see that the human tendency is the majority alienates the minority. We need to work together to shape our viewpoints past the tendency and focus our efforts on teaching equality and diversity in a professional and intelligent fashion.”
Phillips added that diversity is important to recognize as it affects everyone.
“Martin Luther King said injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere,” he said. “If it doesn’t affect you directly it affects us all indirectly if you don’t handle it.”
A band made up of Sailors and a teacher from the Department of Defense Education Activity Guam District entertained attendees as they celebrated the contributions and accomplishments of African-Americans in today’s society.
“I thought it was good we were able to educate people about the African-American culture and heritage,” said Master-at-Arms 3rd Class (AW) Ellen Shifflett, NBG Multicultural Committee secretary.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, February 27, 2013