JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 14, 2022 — 51社区 will host its annual Black Heritage Month Celebration Feb. 17, honoring a group of black students in Jackson-Madison County who protested segregation at a 鈥渨hites-only鈥� counter in Jackson, Tenn.
Known as the 鈥淔reshman Four,鈥� the students will be honored for their bravery and for trailblazing African American freedom in West Tennessee. The families of former Lane College president, Wesley McClure, and former students Kimmie Davis and Ernest Brooks will be honored for their life, love and sacrifice as local pioneers of freedom.
鈥淢any of these trailblazers have gone on without being able to tell their stories,鈥� said Veronica Perry, coordinator of the event and director for university mailing service at Union. 鈥淲hile we have an opportunity, we want to give a voice and proper credence to those who sacrificed their lives for freedom and equality for all.鈥�
Shirlene Mercer, the last living member of the Freshman Four, will speak at Union鈥檚 Black Heritage Month Celebration, following a performance by the Union Proclamation Singers and the Gospel Choir of Lane College.
鈥淎ll of us, especially [Union] students, need to recognize that many of the opportunities we now have and the relationships we have forged are not by happenstance, but they are the work, tremendous bravery and contributions of those like [the Freshman Four],鈥� Perry said.
The Black Heritage Month Celebration dinner will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a program of celebration at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. To register, visit .