Celebrating Black History Month

Every February, Black History Month gives us the opportunity to learn about the rich and, oftentimes, forgotten pieces of American history.

Black Americans helped build this country physically, culturally, diplomatically, and philosophically. They have endured America’s worst, yet thrived under some of the harshest conditions to create an ancestral past that is just as rich and awe-inspiring as the history of America itself.

News Center 7 wants to recognize the Black people and organizations that have contributed to our nation’s progress.

Black History Month: WHIO celebrates all who have pushed our nation forward
Black History Month: Here is what to know about annual celebration
Cities with the most Black-owned businesses
Shop at Local Black-owned businesses: Click Here!

Here is a list of 10 black-owned businesses that saw a surge in interest at the beginning of COVID:

Twist Cupcakery - 25 S. St. Clair Street, Dayton
Yellow Springs Toy Company - Xenia Drive in Yellow Springs
Harbut Bloodstock (Greg Harbut) - Owns thoroughbred horses
Acclaim Senior Activities Center - 3878 Indian Ripple Road, Beavercreek
JW’s Wine Cellar - 724 East Main Street, Trotwood
Grind House Coffee and Tea Company - Meijer in Huber Heights
Alematic Artisan Ales - 6182 Chambersburg Road, Huber Heights
Enhance U Sports Performance Academy - Middletown
Dayton’s Present Tense Fitness - 222 East 6th Street, Dayton
Hightowers Petroleum - Middletown

Saturday, February 7 and 21 - Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum Tours. Special tours in the indoor mausoleum featuring stories of local figures such as Paul Laurence Dunbar and Jordan Anderson.

Dayton Metro Library Events.

Telling Our Stories: Why Representation Matters

Feb. 2 @ 530pm, Miamisburg Branch
Feb. 9 @ 530pm, Vandalia Branch

Rise and Read Book Club: Miamisburg Branch @ 10am
Family Storytime: Hometown Hero Series at Southeat Branch @ 1130am
MLK: Movie clips and posters: Trotwood Branch @ 4pm
Keep the Dream Alive: West Branch @ 530pm
Black History Month Kickoff: Flag-raising at City Hall in early February
Black History Bingo and Trivia: Various branches throughout February
Cooking Classes: Afromeals series featuring Caribbean and West African dishes

RTA Shines Spotlight on Local Artists for Black History Month

RTA’s “Local Art Spotlight” will feature artists across multiple platforms, blending public transportation and visual art in an engaging and accessible way. As part of the initiative, riders will see interior cards displayed aboard buses highlighting each artist and their work. Each featured artist will also be showcased on a dedicated section of the RTA website, www.iriderta.org/LocalArtSpotlight, where the public can explore their artistic style, inspiration, and creative process in greater depth.

The campaign will expand beyond buses and the website with video interviews featuring each artist. These interviews will be shared on RTA’s social media channels, offering an in-depth look at the artists and giving the community a chance to connect with the creative voices shaping the region.

Two of the artists to be highlighted include Joy Johnson and Taliaferro Sebastion. Johnson is a self-taught painter, muralist, and curator whose work explores the intersections of abstraction, rhythm, and cultural storytelling. Sebastion is a nationally recognized artist based in Dayton. His work captures culture, identity, and emotion with striking clarity.

This new campaign is being launched in collaboration with RTA’s “Art on the Move” contest, which invites students in grades K-12 across RTA’s service area to create their own unique bus design.

The winning designs will be transformed into full-size bus wraps, turning them into moving canvases that celebrate winning students’ creativity. More information about “Art on the Move” can be found at www.iriderta.org/ArtontheMove.