ASALH PhilaMontco Branch

Please support this gifted young man, one of our recent scholarship recipient!

Nathanael - One of a Kind Nathanael Barlow- The new voice of jazz

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Join the Summer Freedom School, a free 6-week study exploring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Birmingham Movement of 1963, and their relevance today.

📅 Saturdays, August 1 – September 5
🕥 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Mother Bethel AME Church, Philadelphia
💲 FREE and open to all ages

Each week explores themes of justice, nonviolence, faith, democracy, and the continuing work of building a more just society.

Whether you're a lifelong learner, educator, student, or community member, this is an opportunity to deepen your understanding of Dr. King's vision and its relevance today.

On behalf of the Philadelphia Coalition for Philadelphia Martyrs Day, thank you to everyone who joined us for the First Inaugural Philadelphia Martyrs Day Observance.

Together, we honored the lives and sacrifices of Octavius V. Catto, Levi Bolden, Jacob Gordon, Moses Wright, and Isaac Chase, five men whose courage and unwavering commitment to justice, voting rights, and freedom continue to inspire us today.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners, sponsors, elected officials, clergy, community organizations, volunteers, media, and every attendee who stood with us to ensure these martyrs are remembered and their legacy is carried forward.

This was not simply an event. it was the beginning of a new Philadelphia tradition. Together, we have reclaimed an important chapter of our city’s history and recommitted ourselves to preserving it for future generations.

Local Events to support this weekend!

Reminder!!! Vote like your life depends on it!

We invite you to join us on Sunday, July 5, 2026, as we commemorate Philadelphia Martyrs Day and honor the legacy of:

Jacob Gordon
Moses Wright
Levi Bolden
Isaac Chase
Octavius V. Catto

Five Black men whose lives were taken in 1871 during a campaign to silence the Black vote. Their power was interrupted, not destroyed. Through remembrance, civic engagement, and community action, we continue their unfinished work.
Participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at Eden Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. then join us at Malcolm X Park from 3:00–6:00 p.m. for voter registration and community engagement activities. Bring your family, invite a friend, and stand with us as we honor our past, exercise our power, and shape our future.

Together, we will Remember. Register. Rise.
Sincerely,
PhilaMontco ASALH Branch, 1838 Black Metropolis, & Mother Bethel AME

Make a statement… be there!

Mary McLeod Bethune was a remarkable woman, but even she was not prepared to run a school immediately after finishing her own education. Between her graduation in 1895 and founding her school in Daytona Beach, Florida, she taught at several other institutions, including Lucy Craft Laney's Haines Normal and Industrial Institute in Augusta, GA. The soon-to-be Mrs. Bethune and Mrs. Laney had a lot in common: just like Bethune, Laney was a Black woman born in the South to formerly enslaved parents. Both women's experience in education was facilitated by Presbyterian missionaries, and Laney took advantage of this rare opportunity to dedicate her life to making education more accessible for others. It's not hard to see how Lucy Craft Laney may have inspired Mary McLeod Bethune! Though they only worked together for a small portion of Mrs. Bethune's career, it is still possible to see echoes of the elder educator's influence throughout her life.

Who do you credit with changing your outlook on life and work?

Pictured here are some of the most significant African American women in the education field at the time. Front Row, left to right: Margaret Murray Washington, Mary McLeod Bethune, Lucy Craft Laney, Mary Jackson McCrorey. Second Row, left to right: Janie Porter Barrett, M.L. Crosthwaite, Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Lugenia Burns Hope.

Photo: Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University

What an unforgettable afternoon of scholarship, inspiration, culture, and community!

The PhilaMontco Branch of ASALH proudly hosted another successful Annual Scholarship Luncheon, bringing together supporters, sponsors, educators, students, and community leaders to celebrate the transformative power of education and the enduring legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson.

Our program beautifully reflected our mission—from the stirring rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by the gifted Nathanael Barlow, to an inspiring reflection on the history of our branch, heartfelt fellowship over lunch, uplifting performances by the Salem Praise Dancers and spoken word artist Donielle Jones, and an empowering keynote address by Michelle Flamer, who reminded us why this work remains so vital and why we must continue carrying the mission forward.

The highlight of the afternoon was, of course, awarding scholarships to our exceptional student scholars—the next generation of leaders, changemakers, and history makers. Congratulations to each of our scholarship recipients! We are incredibly proud of your academic excellence, perseverance, and bright futures. May you continue to carry the torch lit by our ancestors, honoring their sacrifices by pursuing your dreams with courage, purpose, and excellence.

Thank you to everyone who supported this event. Because of your generosity and commitment, we are preserving Black history, investing in Black futures, and ensuring that Dr. Woodson’s vision lives on for generations to come.

Black History is American History—and together, we continue to make history. 🖤❤️💚

The 250th anniversary of the United States of America isn’t just about the American Revolution. It’s about celebrating and appreciating two and a half centuries of rich history and remembering the people who worked tirelessly to make our country what it is today. During World War II, Mary McLeod Bethune, hoping to further her mission of desegregating the United States Military, fought for the creation of the Women’s Army Corps, and the inclusion of Black women.

On Saturday, July 11th, you can watch their story unfold with a special screening of Tyler Perry’s “The Six Triple Eight”. The doors open at 1:30 pm, with Q&A with the film’s advisors at 2:00 pm, and the show begins at 3:00 pm at the Miracle Theater!

For more info, visit https://www.nps.gov/mamc/annual-bethune-birthday-celebration.htm

(NPS/NABWH)