Paying attention to the progress people of color have made in the country at large and Adams County specifically, staff and officials kicked of the county's Black History Month celebration Feb. 7.

"We honor those who have come before to celebrate how far we have come as a society but we also honor those who continue to fight today," said Femmi Clemons, Adams County's Veteran's Services officer. "The struggle is still far from over."

Clemons said she's proud of her role.

"I am an example of progress, being the first woman of color to hold this position," Clemons said.

Adams County staff and officials noted the month of February as Black History Month during a brief ceremony at the start of business Feb. 7.

Later, County Commissioners approved a proclamation declaring the month, from Feb. 1 through March 1, 2023 as Black History Month.

February has been set aside as a month to review and celebrate the achievements of Black Americans since 1976, but the event was discussed and called for more than 100 years ago. It has its roots in the original Negro History week that was typically celebrated during the second week of February – bracketed by the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, on Feb. 12, and Frederick Douglas on Feb. 14. Douglas later died on Feb. 20, 1895.

"We do not have to go all the way back in history to see the effects of institutional racism in our country," Clemons said. "You can go back to events that happened the lifetimes of many people here."