South Carolina Black Emphasis Program
 

The Black Emphasis Program (BEP) in South Carolina focuses on issues such as employment, promotions, training, and career enhancement affecting African American NRCS employees and applicants. South Carolina encourages the participation of African-Americans in all NRCS sponsored programs and activities, and provides a network of professional support for African-Americans in NRCS. The BEP manager acts as a liaison between African-American employees and the civil rights committee and is responsible for disseminating outreach materials concerning African-American history and culture to all employees during Black History Month.
 

LaKeisha Hill is a native of Cuba, Alabama, and has worked for NRCS as a Soil Conservationist since 2005.  Her educational background includes Environmental Science and Soil and Water Science.  She has been the South Carolina Black Emphasis Program Manager since 2006.

It's Not Only Black History, it's American History

Submitted by: LaKeisha Hill, SC Black Emphasis Program Manager

It has been a running joke among African-Americans that February was chosen to honor their achievements because it is the shortest month of the year; others have laughed and retorted, no, it is because it is the coldest. Still, there is nothing witty associated with Black history, and the month of February looms large in historical significance regarding the stony road African-Americans have trod in this country. 1

Black history and culture is such an important part of the American fabric that it is difficult to imagine a time when that was not so. Established as Negro History Week in the 1920's by Carter G. Woodson, Woodson chose the second week in February for the celebration. This was done because two people Blacks revered, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, had birthdays that occurred during this week. Extended to a month-long celebration in 1976, Black History Month is an opportunity to emphasize the history and achievements of African-Americans. It was Dr. Woodson's hope that through this special observance, all Americans would be reminded of their ethnic roots, and that togetherness in the United States' racial groups would develop out of a mutual respect.  

The following is the sentiment of many, as expressed by Shaneice Coleman, a junior in high school at the time she made this statement. "February shouldn't be the reason we learn about black history. We should do it (learn about black history) because it is just as much a part of American history as anything else." 3

Despite your opinion on why Black History Month is celebrated and whether or not you agree with it, Black history is all of our history. Embrace it!

Soul Food or Food for the Soul, what do you think?

Submitted by: LaKeisha Hill, SC Black Emphasis Program Manager

    
What exactly is soul food? There are as many different opinions on this as there are people in the world, it seems. According to Wikepedia online, soul food is food typically associated with African Americans of the Southern United States. The term itself first came into the language in the 1960s, used mostly by African-Americans living in the urban areas of the North to describe the foods that were their culinary heritage. Soul food was the food they had grown up on in the South; the same food they took with them in the great migration which occurred during the Great Depression and lasted through the 1960s as many African-Americans left the South hoping for greater opportunity in the cities of the North. The roots of soul food however can be traced back to Africa.

    Soul food recipes and cooking techniques tended to be handed down orally because it was illegal for slaves to read or write. However, since the mid-20th century, many cookbooks highlighting soul food have been published. One in particular that focuses on “lowcounty,” Geechee, or Gullah, cooking is Vertamae Grosvenor's Vibration Cooking, or the Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl, originally published in 1970. It focuses on spontaneity in the kitchen—cooking by "vibration"— rather than precisely measuring ingredients, as well as "making do" with ingredients on hand.

    You may or may not agree with the online definition of “soul food.” Regardless, the depth of my question goes deeper. Rather than asking yourself what is soul food, instead ask "what is food for the soul?" For different people this is different things. In my opinion food for the soul is what we need aside from nutritional food to help us stay charged and make it through each day. Be it love, inner peace, purpose or spirituality, it differs from person to person. So while my initial question was "what is soul food?", what I really wanted the answer to was "what is food for the soul?" So I want to leave you with a recipe that might provide some food for your soul.

Sweet and Spicy Soul Food Recipe

Take a generous amount of self respect.
Spice it with humor.
Stir in equal parts of compassion and love.
Measure in a few drops of frankness (but not enough to be bitter). Blend well.
Knead gently and form into a firm loaf.
Bake in moderate oven.
Baste occasionally with sincerity and serve daily.
 -Author unknown
 

  Employee Black History Trivia 2007

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Other Information

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat.

African-American Heritage Presentation (4 MB) NEW!
2007 BEPM Plan of Work (28 KB)  NEW!

 

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