Borough of State College proclaims February 2025 Black History Month; council president and community speakers emphasize labor and inclusion

The Borough of State College proclaimed February 2025 as Black History Month during its Feb. 3 council meeting.

Council President Evan Myers opened the ceremonial remarks, saying the proclamation is a recognition of contributions that have often been left out of mainstream history. “We need to recognize the contribution of all those many,” Myers said, adding that the council will “continue to do all it can do to make that so for the residents of State College.”

Mayor Ezra Naines read the proclamation, which traces Black History Month to Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and cites the 2025 theme, “African Americans and Labor.” The proclamation notes the 100th anniversary of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and cites the role of Black Americans in labor movements and public life.

Leslie Lang, identified in the meeting as director for adult learner programs at Penn State and chair of the Juneteenth Planning Committee, accepted the proclamation on behalf of the community. “The change continues with us,” Lang said, and she cited labor statistics and historical examples discussed in her remarks, including Mary McLeod Bethune’s founding of a school that became Bethune-Cookman University and the historical labor contributions that built the White House.

During public remarks following the proclamation, resident Gary Abdullah praised the council’s decision to proceed with the proclamation and urged continued local leadership in the face of what he described as national political pressures.

The proclamation is ceremonial; no formal council vote was recorded in the meeting transcript.