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Tumwater proclaims February 2025 Black History Month; Dr. Thelma Jackson invites public to local museum
Summary
Mayor Debbie Sullivan presented a Black History Month proclamation on Feb. 4. Dr. Thelma Jackson accepted the proclamation and invited residents and school groups to a Black History Museum hosted by New Life Baptist Church; she said Tumwater School District did not respond to an invitation for field trips.
TUMWATER, Wash. — Mayor Debbie Sullivan presented a proclamation designating February 2025 as Black History Month to Dr. Thelma Jackson at the Tumwater City Council meeting on Feb. 4.
The proclamation, read by Council member Kelly Vonholtz, cites the historical contributions of African Americans — including George Bush, identified as the first Black settler to receive a land grant in Washington Territory — and notes the 2025 national theme, “African Americans and labor.” Mayor Debbie Sullivan signed the proclamation on behalf of the city.
Dr. Thelma Jackson accepted the proclamation and urged the community to engage with local programming. “We deeply appreciate this proclamation in recognition of Black History Month and what it stands for,” Jackson said. She described a Black History Museum organized by New Life Baptist Church that is open every Saturday afternoon during February and said the exhibit has expanded and now invites school districts to schedule field trips.
Jackson said she had invited all eight Thurston County school districts but that the Tumwater School District did not respond to the invitation, meaning Tumwater students will not have the same opportunity as students from neighboring districts to visit the museum this year. “It’s not taught in our schools, so we have to teach it in our communities,” she said.
Jackson also urged continued discussion of the historical role of unpaid labor in building the nation and said Black History Month provides a chance to reflect and educate.
The city’s proclamation and Jackson’s remarks emphasized celebration and education rather than new city policy. Jackson invited council members, staff and residents to visit the museum between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays during February.
