By AFRO Staff
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) held the 99th Annual Black History Month Luncheon on Feb. 22. The luncheon, which carried ASALH’s 2025 theme of “African Americans and Labor, was preceded by a two- hour book signing event.
Ebony McMorris, the White House correspondent for Urban Radio Lonnie G. Bunch III, set the tone for this year’s luncheon, proclaiming that she was fired up about Black history– regardless of the efforts to stamp out the country’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The organization, founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926, is now led by Dr. Karsonya “Kaye” Whitehead, the founding executive director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace and Social Justice and a professor of communication and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland.
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Alexis Connors, a freshman student at Howard University from North Carolina, delivers a powerful spoken word performance for those in attendance.
(AFRO Photos / Alexis Taylor)
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Greg Carr (left), associate professor and chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies at Howard University, leads a panel session with Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, and Christine Sampson-Clark, executive committee member of the National Education Association .
(AFRO Photos / Alexis Taylor)
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Dr. Shantella Sherman, a historian, and Dr. Sophia Johnson-Sparks, a toxicologist, takes part in the ASALH book tour ahead of the 2025 luncheon.
(AFRO Photos / Alexis Taylor)
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Philomena Addo, owner of Heritage International Fashions, displays an array of African goods. (AFRO Photos / Alexis Taylor)
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Sylvia Y. Cyrus, executive director of ASALH, delivers remarks. (AFRO Photos / Alexis Taylor)
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Sylvia Y. Cyrus (left), ASALH executive director, and Karsonya Whitehead, ASALH president, accept a $10,000 check from First Vice Grand Basileus at Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, Mark E. Jackson (back, left), and the fraternity’s Third District Representative, Shawn R. Lacey (right). (AFRO Photos / Alexis Taylor)
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The 48th Black Heritage stamp in honor of legendary pianist, singer and producer Allen Toussaint (1938–2015) is unveiled. Shown here, an image of the stamp, which features a 2007 photograph taken by Bill Tompkins in New York City. (AFRO Photos / Alexis Taylor)
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