The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
A celebration
St. Elizabeth Center reflects on black history
Paintings of African American influencers lined the walls of St. Elizabeth Center in Lorain, as the smell of soul food swept through every crevice of the dining hall.
On Feb. 19, the homeless shelter for men hosted a Black History Month celebration with soul food, music, dancing and art.
Lynn Wrice Head, program director of St. Elizabeth Center, said nearly 70 people attended the event and the days of preparation for the celebration were worthwhile.
“We wanted to educate people about black history and let people have dignity and respect while doing so,” Wrice Head said.
The celebration has taken place annually since 2012, the year she came to the center.
“We’ve been doing this every year since I’ve been here,” Wrice Head said. “We try to incorporate new things and make it interesting.”
The evening consisted of a special presentation of African fashion.
Wrice Head, her staff and members of the public dressed in various types of dashikis.
A dance presentation was prepared by members from Wesley United Methodist Church in Lorain.
Following the dances, a poem about heritage was read, blessing of the meal took place and dinner was served.
The meal consisted of ribs, chicken, ham, macaroni and cheese, greens, black-eyed peas and dessert.
“It’s nice to expose people to our culture,” Wrice Head said. “A lot of people don’t know that soul food originated from when slaves were given scraps and they turned it into something delicious.”
Ryan Clement, 26, said he enjoyed the educational portions of the celebration and was happy he attended.
“I got a lot out of the informational part,” Clement said. “I learned a lot in a short amount of time.”
He said he appreciated the art of black musicians such as Nipsey Hussle, NBA Youngboy, Lauryn Hill and Jimi Hendrix.
“I didn’t expect to see these [paintings] here, but I’m surprised,” Clement said. “They’re really good. It’s nice.”
Travis Tornstrom, 23, said he appreciated the home-cooked food.
“It was nice to have a well-cooked, home-cooked meal,” Tornstrom said. “A lot of times at shelters, the food is out of a can.”
He said the celebration made his day feel a little special.
“Honestly, it’s just another day in history for me, but I really appreciate the meal,” Tornstrom said.
Clement said he hopes to continue learning about culture and learning in general.
“I did a lot of learning today about clothes, art and music,” he said. “You learn something new every day, I hope I do.”