Key Highlights
- TARC honors Rosa Parks’ legacy during Black History Month.
- Elmer Lucille Allen, a trailblazer in the civil rights movement, shared her experiences.
- A nationwide public transit tradition recognizes the role of buses in the civil rights movement.
- The event highlights local leaders who have made significant contributions to the community.
TARC’s Black History Month Celebrations: A Look Back and Forward
Hey, you might think this is new, but TARC has been marking Black History Month in a way that honors both the past and present. Last week, they hosted a discussion at Union Station focused on black history, civil rights, and community leadership.
A Seat at the Front of Every Bus
For the next two weeks, a seat at the front of every TARC bus will be marked off as a symbolic tribute to Rosa Parks. This gesture is part of a nationwide public transit tradition that recognizes the role buses played in the civil rights movement. Back in 1966, Elmer Lucille Allen broke barriers as Brown-Forman’s first black chemist until her retirement in 1997.
Local Trailblazers and Community Leaders
The panel included Judge Josephine Buckner, who shared the significance of Black History Month to her. “Sharing the excellence of black people but also understanding the struggle and overcoming that our people have done.” Allen’s message to future generations was clear: give back. “You have to give. Everybody wants things to be given to them, but you have to give of yourself.”
Continuing the Celebration
TARC will continue its celebration next week with a Black-Owned Business Showcase at Union Station featuring more than a dozen local vendors from 11 am to 3 pm. The eighth annual Elmer Lucille Allen Conference on African American Studies will also take place next weekend at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, bringing together scholars and community leaders for a three-day event focused on education and history.
It’s all about debunking myths not only with achievements but by knowing our history. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Carter G.
Woodson announcing Negro History Week in 1926, which laid the foundation for what would become Black History Month. It’s up to us every day to make sure we understand and celebrate this heritage.
