Staff Sgt. Jessica Fielder / U.S. Air National GuardRev. Gerald Hudson speaks to airmen during the Black History Month Program Saturday at Key Field Air National Guard Base in Meridian, Mississippi.

Airmen at Key Field Air National Guard Base in Meridian recognized and celebrated Black History Month on Saturday.

The event highlighted the importance of celebrating Black History Month and how far we have come as a nation. The featured guest speaker was Rev. Gerald Hudson, MSW, along with remarks from the 186th Air Refueling Wing Commander, Col. Ed Evans, and Vice Commander, Col. Britt Watson.

Hudson, a Meridian native, serves as the pastor of Newell Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Meridian and is self-employed as a consultant specializing in workplace challenges involving conflict resolution, mediation and team building.

In opening, Hudson stated, “A man or woman without a sense of history of where they have been or where they come from is like living in a state of amnesia.” Hudson described how we all come from different backgrounds with different histories, and how this affects our perspectives. He included that our review of this history is needed until we all understand each other’s sides and it becomes an inclusive part of our everyday.

“We will need to continue working on integrating it into our culture until it is inclusive and without seams,” Hudson said. He closed his speech by reciting the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

When addressing the audience Evans said, “We as military are so far ahead of the rest of society in regards to diversity that it is easy to forget about the struggles surrounding cultural awareness. We need to remind ourselves every day to include this awareness and to emphasize the importance of inclusion and valuing the contributions of all members, past and present.”

Evans is also the first African American to become Wing Commander at Key Field since its inception in 1939.

Evans continued, “Our daily actions mean so much more for the future than we think. What we do within each day, how we act/react, our values and opinions, and what we choose to do for careers, you never know how those little things that you do will affect those around you for generations to come.”

He spoke of how his grandfather was one of the famed Tuskegee Airman, and how his father was also in the military. He reflects on how this made an impact on him and was most likely a very important part for his choice of career paths.

Watson said, “This program highlights an important aspect of our organization and serves as a reminder of something that might not be thought of on a regular basis, but should be as it can only help us all grow as individuals, leaders, and country.”

Since the mid-1920s there have been organized efforts to promote awareness of African-Americans’ contributions to society. The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History spearheaded the campaign, cumulating in February of 1926 with the first organization celebration of Negro History Week. In 1976, the week was then expanded to an entire month and is now referred to as Black History Month or National African American History Month.

Air Force history is filled with notable black leaders. One such example, C. Alfred “Chief” Anderson, widely known as the Father of Black Aviation, was the first ground commander and chief instructor for training and mentoring hundreds of African American pilots of the famed Tuskegee Airman, beginning in 1941. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the U.S. armed forces, not only making a contribution to the war, but to helping end racial segregation in the military.

Two of the pilots trained by Anderson during this time were Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, who became the first African-American general officer in the U.S. Air Force, and Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James who was the first African-American to become a four-star general.