The big block party
Clearwater's North Greenwood area hopes to become The Destination for people celebrating Black History Month.
By PAMELA GRINER LEAVY
Published February 18, 2005
In celebration of Black History Month, visitors to the Black History Month Family Block Party Saturday will have a chance to learn more.
The North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatic Complex in Clearwater is hosting the party to celebrate the accomplishments of famous black educators, scientists and athletes.
Among the activities is a Black History Month trivia contest will that will feature questions about such renowned historical figures as George Washington Carver, an agriculture chemist who invented peanut butter and mayonnaise; Olympic track star Florence Griffith Joyner; and Mary McLeod Bethune, founder in 1904 of Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro girls, now known as Bethune-Cookman College.
Multicolored beads, temporary tattoos, throwaway cameras and other little trinkets rank among the carnival-game prizes.
Block party organizers plan to educate as well as offer black art, carnival games, fried fish, smoked rice, hot dogs and homemade pie, said Barbara Miller, a recreation specialist at the North Greenwood center and event coordinator.
"The thing we are doing with the trivia is to educate people on a lot of things blacks have accomplished in history," Miller said. "Kids and adults can learn about what contributions black people have made to America, not just to come out and have fun but also to learn from it."
The Greenwood Panthers Youth Football and Cheerleading program and the Wood Teen Council of North Greenwood, which organizes social and educational activities for young people, will sell hot dogs, grilled sausage, fresh popcorn, candy and soft drinks. The Greenwood Panthers offer competitive football, cheerleading and flag football programs for children ages 6 to 15.
Miller and her committee have been planning the Black History Month Family Block Party for more than a month. Miller, a 28-year city of Clearwater staff member, wants people to come from miles away to celebrate Black History Month in North Greenwood.
"We hope people come from all over, from the surrounding cities," she said. "I've sent fliers out to Largo, Clearwater, all over the Tampa Bay area."
History events such as the North Greenwood celebration are important to the entire community, said Randy Lightfoot, supervisor of Social Studies, K-12, for the Pinellas County school system.
"The main reason it's important is that kids need to understand their cultural background and cultural heritage because these are legacies of success," Lightfoot said. "They see that despite the obstacles that people had to overcome, they were successful - all they have to do is build upon that legacy and foundation for their own success."
Lightfoot urges young people to recognize historical and current examples of dynamic leadership in their own communities.
"There have been people inside the community right here in Clearwater, with impact on Pinellas County, local as well as national, not just in Birmingham," he said.
If you goBlack History Month Family Block Party at North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatic Complex/Jack Russell Stadium Parking Lot, 900 N Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free, carnival games are 25 cents per ticket,and the moon walk is $1. Vendors will sell African-American clothes, art and crafts. For information, call 462-6276.