February is known as Black History Month, a time to acknowledge contributions to society made by African-Americans.

Carter G. Woodson, an American historian, started Negro History Week in 1926. It was initially intended to recognize the then-ignored accomplishments of blacks.

Negro History Week was the second week of February. This time of year was initially chosen because it coincides with the birthdays of three men important to the history of African-Americans—President Abraham Lincoln; Frederick Douglass, a writer and escaped slave; and Langston Hughes, a poet and leader of the Harlem Renaissance.

Sophomore Bronlynn Thurman found more of an appreciation for Black History Month when she was younger.

"When I was in elementary school, we used to do a lot of things for Black History Month," she said. "We would get a handout with a biography of a different inspirational black person, and we would have plays where everyone dressed up as a different person. I wish we did things like that here."

Since abolitionist Sojourner Truth's famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech, Akron and Ohio have been influential settings for the Civil Rights movement, as well as for advances in equality and life for blacks.

Coretta Scott King, wife of the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., passed away at the age of 78 on Jan. 30. Mrs. King was an advocate for peace and tolerance like her husband. After her husband's death she continued to make public appearances and speeches.

King also had ties to Ohio. She attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs. Her sister Edythe was the first full-time black student to live on campus, and King spent her years there advocating for rights as a teacher in the community. She also sang at the Second Baptist Church in Springfield.

Many other activists have had ties to Ohio, some literally in Hoban's back yard. Art Minson, another leader who has passed away recently, lived on Fifth Avenue. He devoted his life to improving the East Akron community, specifically through educational programs, food pantries for the hungry and housing developments. His activism won him national recognition, such as the Skeen Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002, and his work in Akron is still improving lives today.

Other leaders have made a positive impact in the Akron area. Sylvester Small, who was born in segregated Mississippi, attended local schools and eventually became the city's first African-American superintendent of the Akron Public Schools.

Dorothy O. Jackson, an activist in programs such as Goodwill and the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, became Akron's Deputy Mayor in 1984.

At Hoban, the annual Black History Month assembly will be Feb. 22, at which the One Hope–One Dream award will be presented. This year Hoban will have its first black honoree, Butch Reynolds.

A plaque at the dome entrance explains the origin of the award:

"The motto of the Congregation of Holy Cross, 'Spes Unica,' refers to the 'One Hope' we find in Jesus. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream of how to bring Jesus' teachings of justice, love and peace to life in our world."

Brother Ken Haders, school president, heads the committee that selects the winner of the award.

Haders, who is the founder of the One Hope–One Dream Award, credits his life experiences as the inspiration.

"I was in high school during the Civil Rights Movement," he said. "Growing up in the North, I didn't know about what went on in other parts of the country."

He was very affected by the work of King and his approach to racism.

"So many people were amazed by the work of Dr. King and his nonviolent approach," Haders said. "He made bigoted people look stupid with a Christian approach, and that is why we established the award."

The recipient must meet four criteria:

* A Hoban graduate whose work or activities bring hope to others.

* A person whose work or activities help build the Kingdom of God by bringing Jesus' teachings to life in the world.

* A person who, like Dr. King, has been an inspiration and example to others in the community in living a dream that brings hope to others.

* A person whose speech and action model the ideals of justice, love and peace taught by Jesus and modeled by King.

Reynolds, Class of 1983, is being honored for his charity work with children in the Akron area. His Care for Kids Foundation uses the sport of track and field to build relationships with the children and instill the importance of education and life skills.

Reynolds is a former Olympic athlete. At the 1988 games, he won a silver medal in the 400 meter race and a gold in the 4x400 relay. Reynolds held a world record in the 400 meters until 1999.

Reynolds is happy to receive the award.

"Being from Akron," he said, "not only am I representing myself but everyone else. It's an honor to be one of the African-American males to give back to the community. I put a lot of hard work and dedication into giving back."

In January, Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio's Summit County Juvenile Court sent out its "Pledge of Nonviolence," in honor of Dr. King. Teodosio also held an event at Chapel Hill Mall, where a banner hangs and papers featuring the pledge could be signed. The papers were also sent to high schools and middle schools around Summit County, including Hoban.

Teodosio wants to inform people on the beliefs of King.

"The court was looking for a way to spread awareness of Dr. King's message and mission of nonviolence," Teodosio said. "The banner and the pledges are tangible recognition of that."

The banner and pledges will be sent to the children's division of the Dr. Martin Luther King Library in Washington, D.C.