SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – It is Oscar night and while most film enthusiasts are rooting for their favorite movies to win others are using some of the films as history lessons.
February is black history month, a time to celebrate the history of African Americans. February was chosen because coincides with the birthdays of two men who fought for their freedom Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
“Lincoln,” a film up for Best Picture, retells the story of how President Abraham Lincoln used his executive authority to pass the emancipation proclamation and eventually the 13th Amendment making slavery illegal.
Years later, in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was created to continue to fight for social justice for all Americans.
Sunday people of all races gathered at the United Methodist church to celebrate black history and hear from the President of Salt Lake's NAACP.
Jeanetta Williams said, "That's how the NAACP was founded. It was founded by a group of black and white citizens."
Williams spoke to the congregation about the history of African Americans and the progress they've made over the last 100 years.
"It gives us an opportunity to reflect on all accomplishments that we've made throughout history,” said Williams.” Progress wasn't just made by the African Americans it was made because we had the help of all different diverse groups."
Williams says movies like "Lincoln" and "Django Unchained,” both up for best picture, remind young and old the history behind the accomplishments and a reminder about the need to continue fighting for equal rights.
