Celebrating Black History: Educational experiences, artistic expression and community leadership
Celebrating black history 100 years in the making, *** living record shaped by struggle but defined by progress. I’m hopeful that it means that the next person who looks like me doesn’t have the same questions regarding whether this is something they can do. *** history built on purpose and uplifting others. I realized. Many, many, many years ago, my purpose was to help people and *** legacy that doesn’t end in reflection because the work is not done. I challenge you to join that coalition, become *** part of this new broad-based drive to regressive change in our nation. In *** KCRA 3 Project Community special, we look at the Northern Californians carrying that legacy forward, creating change, and shaping the future. Thank you so much for joining us. I’m Brandy Cummings and I’m Cecil Hannibal. This year marks *** special milestone for Black history. For 100 years, this nation has recognized the contributions of African Americans during the month of February. It started as Negro History Week in 1926. Carter G. Woodson established it on the 2nd week of February. It coincided with the birthdays of former President. Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two men considered to be pivotal to the abolition of slavery and the fight for civil rights. Then in 1976 it was formally recognized by former President Gerald Ford as *** month-long observance. 10 years later, Congress passed *** bill designating February as Black History Month. Woodson also founded the Association for the Study of African American. In life and history, the group creates *** theme for Black History Month each year, and this year’s theme is *** century of Black history commemorations. We spoke to an educator at Sacramento State about the significance of the milestone. Black History Month, right? It’s this milestone. It’s not just about looking back. It’s about responsibility. It’s not only an American history, but it is also *** world history. It teaches us to continue to work, to teach fully and truthfully, to uplift voices that have been marginalized, and to recognize that progress happens because people choose to lead and advocate for equity. So tonight we will honor the people who are making *** difference in Northern California. We start with Doctor Janae Brown Wood. The Sacramento area author, is inspiring young readers across the country. She’s written more than 30 children’s books. Her goal is to make sure every child feels represented in the stories they read. For Dr. Janae Brown Wood, stories weren’t just *** childhood escape, they were *** calling. Mom creeps to the door and hears sounds from the floor. She’s *** New York Times bestselling author and educator who’s published more than 30 children’s books, all rooted in one powerful mission helping children see themselves in the stories. I hated reading and I reflect back and I think it’s because I couldn’t find myself. I couldn’t find books that looked like me or my family. Janae grew up in Fresno surrounded by *** big loving family. While books didn’t always reflect her world. Storytelling did she created these books in elementary school. I was writing my own stories, but I didn’t find *** love for reading until later. That love eventually led her to UCLA, then Sacramento State, and ultimately UC Davis earning *** PhD focused on education, learning, and the developing mind, but her research and her life experience revealed *** troubling truth too many black and brown children. And fall behind early, often because they don’t have access to books that reflect their lives. If we can get to them early, if we can already be giving them things like literacy skills so that they know how to read, write, and spell, and they can do it well, and then we continue to bolster them, bolster them, that is increasing their likelihood of living the life that they really want to live. Rover’s big jowls are due for some howls. So she writes with intention, creating stories that act as mirrors, windows, and doors for young readers, including her daughter and even my own children who met her *** few years ago during *** book signing. As an adult, it’s my job to make sure I write books that look like every child so that they pick up that book and then get pulled into the world of literary. and want to continue it, but Janay’s journey hasn’t been without obstacles. One of her books even landed on *** list to be banned. When you looked for the rationale, all you saw was that, oh, it was written by *** black author. It didn’t stop her. This former high school basketball and volleyball standout now travels the country speaking to. Educators and parents and offering free online resources like Jammies with Janay. Read to your child every night before they go to bed. This helps to solidify these important brain networks that set the stage for literacy and strengthen it. Dr. Janay Brown Wood building Black history one page at *** time. And Dr. Brownwood told me she has dreams of one day expanding her stories to television with her own show. We can’t wait to see that. I know. Well, you know, there are countless people across our area helping to lend *** hand to the next generation. One of them is Jonathan James, the South Sac native, is the head men’s basketball coach at Consumnes River College, which is also his alma mater. But his biggest wins at the school have come in the classroom. This year we had *** couple of guys with 4.0s. Uh, last season we had two student athletes with 4.0, so I’m super proud of that. Uh, you know, we’re graduating about, uh, 92%, um, of our student athletes. I think we put academics first and then we put the just the development and the maturation of these young men, um, and that’s so, that’s so important to me because. I understand that I have somebody’s child and they’re trusting me with that child and they’re with me the majority of the time for the next over the next two years and um we have *** hand of kinda just growing them. Coach James has been *** kinesiology professor at the college for more than *** decade. He says his goal is simple to make sure every player leaves better than they arrived, not just as athletes, but as men. Now Consumer River College was one of 4 local colleges recognized for the resources they offer to black students. CRC, UC Davis, Sac State, and Sack City College were all designated. As black serving institutions by state leaders, the designation is part of *** new statewide effort to recognize campuses that excel in supporting student success. In all, 31 campuses across the state of California were recognized. For *** school to qualify for the BSI designation, at least 10% or 1500 of its students must be black or African American. In *** Sacramento neighborhood once considered *** food desert, fresh produce now lines the aisles, and so does possibility. You know, it’s all thanks to the work of Keith and Phyllis Johnson. So they own the new grocery outlet on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento’s Ardent Arcade area. These two high school sweethearts are the only African American owners of *** grocery outlet in the city. Phyllis runs the business behind the scenes while Keith, as you can see here, manages the store floor. They chose this location intentionally, bringing affordable, healthy food to *** community that needed access. We wanted to bring fresh products, you know, fresh produce, natural foods here, and we also wanted to bring, you know, economic prosperity to this neighborhood. We’re here to give back, not just to bring customers in to buy groceries. We wanna be *** part of this community. They also brought opportunity because most of their staff was hired from the neighborhood and their high school sweethearts. Businesses that are making *** meaningful impact in communities of color are being recognized. Some were honored as part of the annual California Black Business Brunch held on February 9th in downtown Sacramento. Sac State President Doctor Luke Wood was the keynote speaker. He talked about the university’s impact on the region. We’re trying to serve as an engine for economic development for this region from everything that we’re doing with the stadium, everything we’re doing with our downtown project it’ll be right next door to the state capitol and recognizing that our students are the workforce of this region. Our students come here and they stay. It’s the resilience of small business folk in our community that we’re honoring, but more importantly, it’s shining *** light on who we are as Americans. And two of the business owners recognized were Keith and Phyllis Johnson, the grocery outlet owners you heard from *** moment ago. An exhibit at the Sacramento History Museum is looking at the lasting legacy of black farmers. Black soil under roots runs deep. That’s the name of the exhibit. It shows the importance they have on local and state history and the impact on several foods that are still popular today. KCRA 3’s Denzin Cortez has the story. I’m admiring these strawberries here because I remember when my grandfather would tell me, you know, he would pick an agriculture back in the days, and this is only *** part of the Black History Month exhibit that’s going on here at the Sacramento History Museum to celebrate over 1100 years of Black History Month, and I’m hearing some sounds here and I’m gonna head on over to my friend Kanok IRL. Kok, what you got planned on for us, man? Um, so this is just *** miniature Jim bait drum. Um, the drum is very important when it comes to agriculture because. Back in our ancient societies, the drum always began things, it started things, it celebrated things, it brought people back to the village in order to work on those projects and, and, and *** lot of the things that happened with the drums are nothing but language. We were talking off camera, you know, admiring and celebrating the history of agriculture, black agriculture, but also looking forward and moving forward. Um, how does this do this? Well, so one of the ways that we do that is, is when we have these two specific. Things that we do with our farm one is called liberated Harvest and it’s called the CSA program which was community supported agriculture and so the idea is that people can purchase food from us and they’re able to actually create *** relationship with the people that grow their food and every year when we do our program we have this customer appreciation time where we all come together and have this big barbecue where we can all talk about the season and the foods that they ate and so that’s one thing. Another thing is to reclaiming. medicine we all know that plants were our original healers, right? And so my wife Judith, she makes these wonderful products such as soaps and healing salves. *** lot of them have things that we’ve grown at the farm, herbs and different things, yes, from our local owned farm and so that’s kind of the way how we’re taking, uh, what we’ve learned from our ancestors and being able to share that to *** much larger audience, you know, as *** farmer yourself, how does this make you feel to know that there’s an exhibit here now. History Museum, uh, celebrating all this history that now you are incorporating to sell, uh, uh, for other people in in their region, um, it makes me incredibly proud, um, to, to know that my grandfather’s, uh, great grandfathers who were farmers, um, were able to uh were able to do this now and not only be able to do this but to really talk about this idea of land stewardship and generational wealth which has always been. Pass through land through families and so what we’re showing is that when *** family stewards the land and stewards it with discipline, then it leads to benefits not just for them but also for the larger community. And what do people need to know for this exhibit? I know it’s there’s certain dates. What do people need to know if they wanna come and visit and learn more about things? Well, they need to know about March 14th because March 14th we’re gonna have *** big farmer’s market here, so you’ll be able to see. The exhibit itself and then the third floor will have some vendors there. It’s gonna probably be some music. It’s gonna be *** really good time, so everybody needs to come to that. So if you see me *** little late to KCRA on March 14th, you’ll know where I’m here. But Ko appreciate you speaking with us truly, and March 14th, we’ll be here at the Sacramento History Museum celebrating Black History Month and black agriculture here in our region of Sacramento. Back to you guys in the studio. Thanks Denson. Well, that exhibit is on the first floor of the Sacramento History Museum. It runs through March 29th. This month we also saw an exhibit dedicated to Sacramento’s black history. The Sacramento Black History Past, Present, and Future exhibit was held in Florence Square. Organizers say the goal is to showcase people from Sacramento that may not be in the history books yet, but had *** lasting impact. The exhibit features people like Norman Blackwell, who played in the Negro League and still competes in softball at 92 years old. Sacramento has *** whole entourage of black history, and we just want people to know that, you know, when we say Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and Rosa Parks and all them, they’re not gonna start saying, uh, Mayor Kevin Johnson, they can start saying, uh, Valerie Pitts, they can start saying Christian Lozado, they can start saying Mr. Norman Blackwell. And it was organized by the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum and the Florence Square Community Development Corporation. Well, still ahead, from being *** mental health researcher to *** city council member, how Doctor Dante Earley is breaking barriers in West Sacramento. Welcome back. This month is *** time to honor trailblazers whose impacts are shaping communities right now in West Sacramento, Doctor Dante Earley is breaking barriers in public service while working to change the future for families across the region. You know that leader of ZA State, remember when he did that on any given day, Dr. Dante Earley is balancing leadership meetings, community needs, and family all at once. And I’m also *** mom. Dr. Earley serves not only on the West Sacramento City Council, but also as president and CEO of United Way California Capital Region, overseeing efforts across five counties. Our mission is to end poverty in this region. This mural, actually her journey into politics didn’t begin with ambition for office. It started during one of the most uncertain moments in modern history in 2020 as the country faced *** COVID-19 pandemic and *** national reckoning over racial justice. Doctor Earley says she felt *** calling to serve in *** deeper way. At the time, she was working for the state as *** mental health researcher. Running for office had never crossed her mind until someone suggested it. And I was like, Me? Really? Me? Her first campaign was grassroots in every sense, supported by family, friends, and even her Girl Scout troop going door to door. She lost that race by just 79 votes, but *** year later, she won. Dr. Early’s path to leadership began long before City Hall. Born in Germany to parents serving in the US Air Force, she grew up in the Sacramento region after years of moving between bases. Basketball first shaped her journey, leading her to play in college until becoming *** mother at 19 shifted her path. So her dream. Becoming *** medical doctor changed, but she discovered *** new purpose. I really fell in love with research and numbers and what the power of numbers and data can do to answer questions and highlight things and give people voices that maybe normally wouldn’t have voices. That passion led her to earn *** PhD in human development. From UC Davis, then she made history in 2021, becoming the first African American city council member ever elected in West Sacramento. For her, the milestone wasn’t about personal recognition, it’s about possibility. I’m hopeful that it means that the next person who looks like me. Doesn’t have the same questions regarding whether this is something they can do, but whether someone who is African American, whether they can win or not, whether they will be accepted, that those questions won’t be asked. Still, despite the titles, she says her motivation remains simple to create *** path for others that she didn’t always see for herself. Doctor Early is one of *** number of black leaders breaking barriers. Last year, Marquisha Smith became the first black woman to serve as Sacramento city manager. She oversees nearly 6000 employees and manages an operating budget of more than $1.5 billion for the city. When asked about her appointment, Smith said, quote, Sacramento is *** city characterized by its resilience, diversity, and ambition, all unified by *** common goal for progress and prosperity. The city manager, my vision is to create an environment where every resident, business owner, and volunteer feels seen, heard, and valued. The city of Davis welcomed its first black city manager last year. Darrielle Dunstan took office on September 15th after serving as assistant city manager in Santa Rosa. He worked in Oakland as senior policy adviser to the vice mayor. In Davis, he plans to find solutions for homelessness but also focus on the budget and economic progress for the city. Davis has *** population of around 67,000 people, but less than 3% of its residents are black. Artwork from local black artists is on display at Sacramento’s Art and Fair Mall. It features *** variety of creative work, some of which you see behind me. KCI 3’s Denzin Cortez takes *** look at the exhibit. On the first day of Black History Month, History lines the walls. Black history is American history, not in textbooks, but in frames. You got 28. Days to make it happen, right? We just wanted to cultivate space that was very intentional. Barry Axios with Voice of the Youth bringing together local black artists for *** monthlong art exhibit to display black culture in Sacramento. Why don’t we utilize this space, this art gallery space, and put local black artists here for Black History Month found. 11 exceptional black artists and we cultivated this space very intentionally to represent black artists in its fullest and highest form in *** partnership with Art and Fair Mall, the monthlong free exhibit displaying black art forms and music, paintings, and photography. This piece right over here, I think that when we talk about representation, right? When you represent the love of black fathers, I don’t think you really see that, but we in our community know that it’s happening. For local artists, Arts by Bree, one of the 11 artists selected, she hopes her paintings inspire beyond just 28 days. I never got to study about black people, especially black women in art. I wanna make sure that we’re included in the space when it comes to art and making sure that we’re always represented in that field. Everybody knows we have *** legacy. That’s long lasting and for me it’s to represent the young and the old and all in between and for people to feel like that black joy and that black pride when they come into this gallery and for other folks to really see the kind of dope art that really should be highlighted *** lot more in our city. In Sacramento, Denzel Cortez, Casey Harry, 3 News. Now this exhibit is free and open through the end of the month. Coming up in *** few minutes, paying tribute to *** civil rights icon, how Reverend Jesse Jackson is being remembered. As we close tonight’s Black History Month special, we want to pay tribute to someone that’s done so much for the black community and advancing civil rights, Reverend Jesse Jackson. The activist, Baptist minister, and two-time presidential candidate died this month. The South Carolina native leaves behind *** legacy of change. I challenge you to join that coalition, become *** part of this new broad-based drive for progressive change in our nation. Reverend Jackson worked relentlessly for underrepresented communities both in the US and abroad. He met with countless world leaders, created the Rainbow Coalition to empower multiracial political power, and his work continues even today at his organization’s headquarters in Chicago. We spoke to KCRA 3 political analyst Kevin Riggs and *** local pastor about how they will remember Reverend Jackson and his legacy. Uh, *** very powerful personality, high energy. He had this very effective cadence of, of ***, of *** Southern Baptist preacher, which he had been. Uh, and so he was *** very powerful speaker, *** very powerful personality. He was physically tall. He was 6’3 or 6’4. And so it was impossible not to be aware when he was in the vicinity. It showed us how to marry faith and community. Right? How to put our faith in action, um, how to be ***, to still preach and teach on Sunday but then fight for the people on Monday. And so I think it’s, uh, he, he lived ***, *** great life. He left *** great legacy for us to, uh, celebrate but then also to, to take the baton, right? And to say, you know, I, we now have to do our part because one of our, uh, one of our leaders have gone. Reverend Jackson had been in the hospital since late last year receiving care for *** rare neurological disorder. Reverend Jesse Jackson was 84 years old. I want to thank you for joining us as we honor those making an impact in the black community. You can find more information on all of the stories you’ve seen tonight on our website, KCRA.com. Have *** good night.
Celebrating Black History: Educational experiences, artistic expression and community leadership
This February marks the 100th year of Black History Month being celebrated in America.
KCRA 3’s goal during Black History Month has been to spotlight the impact of Black leaders, artists and innovators in our region. Many of the the people and organizations highlighted in our Project CommUNITY special this year go beyond embodying Black excellence themselves, but also prioritize uplifting and giving back to their community.
This year’s BHM theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” reflects how honoring Black history has shaped identity, strengthened community, and elevated the contributions of Black trailblazers across generations.
A Black-owned grocery store in Sacramento, a councilwoman and CEO sparking change in the Capitol region, and a community college basketball coach set on raising up his players on and off the court are just some of the stories included in our 2026 Black History Month special.
Watch the full special in our video player below and find individual stories below.
