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Piedmont proclaims February 2025 Black History Month; exchange student reads poem
Summary
The council adopted a proclamation designating February 2025 as Black History Month; Samuel Bahala, an 11th-grade Malawi exchange student, read a poem reflecting on histories and resilience.
The Piedmont City Council read and adopted a proclamation designating February 2025 as Black History Month, noting the month was formally adopted in 1976 to honor contributions of people of African heritage. The proclamation, read by the vice mayor and signed by Mayor Betsy Smigel Anderson, encourages educational events and community reflection.
Samuel Bahala, an 11th-grade exchange student originally from the Congo and hosted locally, read a poem he wrote honoring struggles and achievements across history. "Let's lift up the sound that echoes through time with respect and honor, we stand hand in hand in search for justice," Bahala recited. Council members and attendees posed for a photograph with the proclamation and thanked the student and faculty who supported the celebration; no council action beyond the proclamation was required.
