Umoja Village holds 3rd Annual Black History Month celebration

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Umoja Village brought the Aiken community together for its 3rd Annual Black History Month community celebration.

The night was filled with music, dancing, and awards, but most importantly a message for those young and old on standing up for black history month: if not now, when?

Umoja village broke in the first weekend of black history month by acknowledging community leaders with food, soul, a good time, and staying focused on the path ahead.

“If not now, when? If not you, who?” said S.C. Representative of Orangeburg County, Gilda Cobb-Hunter. “And so here’s the message: it takes a village, get an education, expect great things from our young people.”

Representative Cobb-Hunter spoke to the importance of making sure everyone’s voice is heard in this year’s election, urging everyone to vote no matter the party.

She then helped Umoja Village honor Aiken’s own house representative, William Clyburn Sr., with a lifetime achievement award.

“I love all of you and I’m sorry I’m at a loss for words,” said Representative Clyburn.

After honoring those who paved the way, the village then ended the night by giving the stage to the future trailblazers with the Aiken NAACP Youth Council.

Vice President, Jayden Broughton, said, “What has being quiet ever gotten you or me? How can we sit still like a plant? We are young, gifted, black, and free. We are full of dreams, and we will scream, we will rage, we will reign.”