2004 Press Releases

American Embassy Celebrates Black History Month

Feb. 18, 2004

The U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, in collaboration with Turkmenistan's Ministry of Culture and the American Councils for International Education (ACCELS), is holding a series of public activities in celebration of Black History Month. The month of February was designated as Black History Month in the 1970's and seeks to recall and celebrate the positive contributions made by people of African descent to the discovery, development and defense of America.

In Ashgabat Black History Month celebrations began on February 7 with a conversation class on "the Value of Diversity in the U.S." for young visitors to the American Center. Bahar Nuryeva, a U.S. Government exchange program alumna, leads this series featuring discussions on various civil rights themes twice a week throughout the month. The discussion series includes topics such as "Martin Luther King and Non-Violent Resistance", "the Value of Equality", and "the Value of Freedom".

Another event for American Center visitors will be a video class, held in two sessions, February 12 and 19, which includes viewing the movie "The Color Purple" and follow-up discussion. The Steven Spielberg film portrays the life and trials of a young African-American woman in the early 20th century and her struggle against violence and gender and racial stereotypes.

U.S. Embassy Public Affairs staff is conducting a number of discussions throughout the month on the origination and evolution of Black History Month and the Civil Rights movement in the U.S. Such discussions have been held with youth-at-risk, high school students, alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs, educators and representatives of ethnic communities around Ashgabat. More discussions will be organized throughout the month for students and teachers. During these events, participants discuss and evaluate challenges faced and victories achieved by the African-American people on their centuries-long path to being recognized as equal citizens in American society.

A Mini Film Festival at the National Library featuring movies on the history and life of African-Americans in the U.S. is expected to be a highlight of the month. On February 23, U.S. Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson and Turkmen government officials will open the Festival, which will last until February 27. Movies such as "Amistad", "A Time To Kill", and "Dorothy Dandridge 'An American Beauty'" will help viewers understand African-American challenges of slavery, segregation and discrimination with more insight and empathy.

The designation of February as Black History Month was part of an effort to remedy the neglect of African-Americans' contributions to America's development in U.S. history books and provide the information needed for understanding and empathetic dialog about African-Americans to all Americans and others around the world.

Originally established as Negro History Week in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a noted African-American author and scholar, this event evolved into the designation of February as "Black History Month" in 1976. This commemoration has increasingly been referred to as "African-American History Month," although both names are currently in use.

More information about Black History Month events in Ashgabat may be requested from the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section by calling 35-00-45.