Parkersburg, W.Va. (February 15, 2022) – To celebrate Black History Month, WVU Parkersburg is hosting in-person and virtual events, exploring topics of inequality and paying tribute to the contributions of Black Americans.

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, at noon, Derrick Johnson, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chief executive officer and president, will join the college for a Facebook Live (wvup.edu/live). He will discuss the importance of equity and inclusion, voting rights and other pressing issues facing minority populations.

“This month, we honor the struggles and triumphs of Black Americans,” said Dr. Steven Smith, WVU Parkersburg Opening Pathways to Equity Now (OPEN) Project chair. “We have remarkable people of color who paved the path for education and inclusion right here in Parkersburg. I am proud to honor their legacy and celebrate the stories that have been forgotten or silenced.”

WVU Parkersburg’s OPEN Project will present another Facebook Live on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 12:15 p.m., about the history of Sumner School. The presentation will be led by Dr. Michael Rice, author of “The Sumner Seven.”

Sumner School was the first free school established in Parkersburg, W.Va., in 1862, supported by the private funds of colored citizens in the area. In 1866, it became part of the segregated public school system. Sumner School eventually expanded and became the first Black high school in West Virginia, presenting its first class graduating students in 1887.

In addition, a visual history of Sumner School will be available at the college’s Success Epicenter (room 1332) on the main campus.

To learn more about these events, contact open@wvup.edu.