By Davina Snyder
The Parthenon
The eve of the centennial of Negro History Week, now Black History Month, was commemorated Friday, Jan. 30, with a poster and essay competition award ceremony hosted by Marshall’s Dr. Carter G. Woodson Lyceum.
Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) was not a West Virginia native, but he spent his early adult years in Huntington: he attended Douglass High School and later became the principal. Today, he is known as the father of Black History Month.
In 1926, Woodson created Negro History Week, meant to not focus on only historical events involving Black people, but all of history including Black people.
At the time, Woodson proclaimed textbooks on history often overlooked and suppressed mentions of African Americans. He worked to preserve all contributions to national history made by African Americans.
In 2016, Marshall created the Lyceum as a tribute to justice and freedom for African Americans and freedom of press. The theme for the 2026 competition was celebrating the 100-year milestone of Black History Month.
Students in K-12 as well as at the college level were able to compete. Elliott Hutchinson, fourth grader at Meadows Elementary, won first place in the elementary category for his poster.
Clara Turley, Huntington Middle School eighth grader, won the merit award for her poster, which featured the Little Rock Nine, a group of African American students that attended Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas.
The Little Rock Nine were enrolled at the all-white school after segregation was declared unconstitutional in 1954. On Sept. 23, 1957, the Little Rock Nine went to their first day of class surrounded by protesters and protected by the Arkansas National Guard.
Lucile Maroux, Huntington High School senior, won first place for her poster.
Quinlan Doddridge, 10th grader also from Huntington High School, won first place in the high school essay competition.
In the college/university level, senior journalism major Baylee Parsons won first place for her essay.
The award ceremony kicked off a number of events and celebrations, such as musical performances, a film showing of “Sinners,” a Fireside Chat with Marshall President Brad D. Smith and activist John Hope Bryant, symposiums and different presentations on Black history.
The events are scheduled throughout February and March 2026. More information can be found on the Marshall University Dr. Carter G. Woodson Lyceum website.
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