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Description
County Executive Jim Smith will join others in celebrating the legacy of Benjamin Banneker and other African American pioneers.
African American Firsts
1 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2009
www.bc350.org
A
33
years
ago,
just
a
few
miles
north
of
here
in
Philadelphia
representatives
from
each
of
the
13
American
colonies,
came
together
to
create
a
nation.
Unlike
any
the
world
had
ever
seen.
Those
brave
men
risked
the
wrath
of
the
British
Empire
when
they
signed
their
names
to
a
public
document
that
described
a
new
kind
of
nation,
a
nation
based
on
the
idea
that
all
men
are
created
equal,
that
they
are
endowed
by
their
creator
with
certain
unalienable
rights
and
that
among
these
are
life
liberty
and
the
pursuit
of
happiness.
A
However,
behind
those
words
they
a
tragic
truth.
Unfortunately,
the
man
who
ripped
them
into
our
Declaration
of
Independence
owned
other
human
beings
at
slaves
in
a
nation
founded
on
the
idea
that
the
government
derives
its
power
from
the
will
of
the
people.
Millions
of
men
and
women
were
held
in
bondage
for
no
other
reason
than
the
color
of
their
skin,
and
it
would
be
many
years
before
they
would
be
able
to
claim
the
unalienable
rights
that
had
been
promised
to
all
Americans
Oh.
C
D
C
I
before
you
recognize
some
other
person
bought
one
who
could
not
be
with
us
some
of
the
first
blacks
that
were
in
the
fire
department,
Sylvester
Thomas,
Hunter,
Isaac
bird,
who
allowed
me
to
come
into
the
fire
department
when
I
met
him
that
chance
living
in
my
apartment
complex.
So
you
know
I'm
thankful
to
all
of
them
who
who
blazed
the
trail
for
us
and
for
those
that
come
behind
us
that?
Hopefully
we
can
serve
as
some
sort
of
inspiration
so
that
our
living
is
not
in
vain.
F
Years
ago,
I
didn't
start
out
to
be
the
first
of
anything
nice,
but
I
did
take
advantage
of
every
opportunity.
They
came
my
way
and
really
blessed
that
I
have
so
many
opportunities
throughout
my
career
30
years
ago,
when
I
join
the
ball
in
the
county
police
department,
there
were
80
black
police
officers
at
once.
Supervisor
and
I
was
pretty
amazed
at
that
Bill
Turner
with
the
sergeant
at
the
time.
The
entire
is
a
lieutenant
and
we
have
some
300
black
police
officers
now
nearly
30
supervisors
and
commanders.
You
know
I'm
really
proud.
F
D
I
00
service
service
to
my
community
and
as
our
presidents
that
we
need
to
become
more
active
in
our
communities
and
also
in
the
government.
Young
people
need
to
come
out
and
start
becoming
familiar
with
their
County
Council.
If
you
live
in
baltimore
city,
the
city
council
book
and
the
same,
knowing
that
we
need
to
come
out
and
do
that
can't
forget
Fire
Chief,
John
Holman,
who
had
enough
confidence
in
my
ability
to
give
me
a
chance
and
an
opportunity
to
do
this
job
again.
G
Now
I
thought
that
happens.
What
should
I
look
at
something
that
you
can
still
hear
what
benefit
it's,
July
or
beautiful,
and
each
day
I
think,
my
god
that
I,
because
of
so
many
things
on
my
friend
or
not?
Okay,
just
let
me
say
this,
thank
you
20
and
he
makes
it
awesome
to
receive
something
what
you
enjoy
doing.