Warner Robins hosts inaugural Black History Month celebration

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Food, drinks, music and comradery were abound Tuesday evening, as the movers and shakers of Warner Robins gathered together at City Hall to hold the city’s first ever Black History Month celebration. The event recognized the Black community and the massive impact it’s had, not only on the United States, but even more directly, within Houston County and on the city of Warner Robins.

Mayor LaRhonda Patrick stepped away from the celebration momentarily to speak with The Journal.

“We had a program outside of City Hall; we had two speakers, we had poetry and one of the programs from the Houston County School System, the Bonaire Middle School Step Team, came and did a performance,” Patrick said. “We have live music, a saxophonist named Mr. Harold Thomas, an amazing musician.

“We had a great time. All the different municipalities came out to support us: the city of Perry, the city of Centerville, and the Houston County Board of Commissioners. Nobody had a quorum, but it was a really, really great occasion.”

According to Patrick, it’s important that Warner Robins, the International City, hold celebrations that represent all of its peoples. Celebrating Black History Month is just one way that the city can show that it exists for everyone that lives in it.

She added that the coming year will be one of many firsts, as she hopes to spend the year defining the city’s identity, “unearthing” it.

“Macon is music, they have their music. Perry, they have their downtown and all their history, they’re one of the oldest cities in our state. Warner Robins didn’t really have an identity outside of Robins Air Force Base. This year, we’re unearthing and claiming our identity as the International City, so you’re going to see different celebrations that pull out all the cultures in our city.

“It’s going to be a great year. Black History Month is just one thing we chose to celebrate, because it’s important to me, it’s important to many people who work at the city, and many people who live in our city.”

Councilmen Larry Curtis and Clifford Holmes, both present at the event, said the event was “phenomenal.”

“We are the International City, so we need to recognize all our citizens,” Curtis said. “It’s phenomenal, and I’m glad it’s finally happening in the International City.”

“As some of the participants said to me, they were glad to see something of this nature take place,” Holmes said.

As more events are planned by the City of Warner Robins, you can learn more about them on their Facebook page, at “City of Warner Robins Government,” or at their website, www.wrga.gov.

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