Article Photos

EAST LIVERPOOL - Members of the NAACP joined local politicians and area residents Saturday evening in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the NAACP at the East Liverpool Motor Lodge.

The banquet began at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Ernest E. Peachy Sr. leading an invocation. After the invocation, Stacia Abbot sang a beautiful rendition of the Black National Anthem "Lift Your Voice."

NAACP Unit Secretary Danielle Dillon said the NAACP Organization is not only about social and civic justice, but service. Dillon formally recognized members of the audience, including current East Liverpool-Wellsville NAACP President Tom Jarrett, Alonzo and Rosalie Spencer, Mayor Jim Swoger, and Columbiana County Auditor Nancy Milliken. Milliken said the NAACP has come a long way over 100 years.

According to President Tom Jarrett, the NAACP was officially formed in 1909 for the purpose of ensuring the political, social and economic equality of rights of all persons, and to eliminate racial hatred and discrimination.

Jarrett presented Civic Awards to Dharam Bir Batish, M.D. of East End, and Gina Hampson of Wellsville. "I moved to East End about the same time Dr. Batish came to East End. When he came in there was a post office, fire department and banks. They are all gone now, but Dr. Batish is still there. He doesn't know how much the community appreciates him," Jarrett said.

Dr. Batish was born and educated in India and came to New York as a surgeon in 1975. After four years of service at the East Liverpool City Hospital, he established his own medical practice on Pennsylvania Avenue in East End in 1981. He later opened a second office in Wellsville.

"I don't know Gina Hampson personally," Jarrett said, "but she has shared her art in Wellsville and her resume is all over the walls down there. Thank you for your beautiful work." Hampson worked for 16 years at Summitville Tile before becoming a freelance artist. Hampson was hired by the Wellsville Revitalization Committee in 2005 and has since painted a string of 20 murals along the Wellsville flood wall.

After dinner NAACP Life Member Dr. Roxanne Burns recognized several guests. "Thank you all for being here. (The banquet) seems to get smaller some years than others, so I hope next year you will all bring your friends." After recognizing several political and NAACP members, Burns joked, "Is there anyone here who is not a politician or former NAACP President?"

NAACP Life Member Ernest Gibson III introduced the Keynote Speaker, the Rev. Eric B. Antwi who currently serves as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Chester. Antwi is originally from Ghana and will be returning to his native country eventually. "His path has been one of self-discipline, sacrifice and community service," Gibson said.

Antwi first came to America in 2004 as a missionary to West Virginia, and later Nebraska, before settling in Chester. He is fluent in French and can speak six local Ghana languages. Antwi obtained a Bachelors degree in Religions and Sociology from the University of Ghana. He also attended St. Peter's Regional Seminary where he devoted four years to the study of theology and gained teaching credentials. Antwi was ordained into the priesthood July 28, 2001, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate degree from Duquesne University.

"My duty here is to express to you about freedom in Ghana," Antwi said. Antwi's keynote speech discussed the serious issues the country of Ghana has faced over the years. "The people of Ghana understood the true meaning of freedom March 6, 1957. This was the day the country received independence from colonial rule. Ghana was the first black African country to gain independence from the British. The people in Ghana still see ourselves as the Gateway to Africa," he said.

Antwi explained that while Ghana was under colonial rule the British wanted the black people of Africa to act exactly like the people in Paris, France. "The British had a different system altogether. We believe in freedom and we believe in justice, and (these two) must go together," he said.

Antwi said the people of Ghana believe that freedom means "Declaration from foreign governments," and it was this that they were trying to do for many years. "Being empowered to develop one's potential ... that is freedom," he said. Unfortunately, Ghana experienced many military takeovers and corrupt leaders. "The freedom that we believed in was really turned away," he said.

Nevertheless, the people of Ghana have continued to pursue freedom. Antwi believes that everyone is not without their limitations, however. "Socially people are free, but they also find themselves tied up in social norms and practices." For example, a couple wanting to get married in Ghana must first receive the approval of their family members. Antwi also explained that while he may be free, he must still be responsible for those he represents. "I represent the church in Chester so if I do something bad, that church is going to be effected. Whatever I do has an effect, so I know I am free, but those things are the chains that are around me. The people in Ghana believe in freedom, but they know that absolute freedom belongs to God. We are free, but we are not free to destroy society."

President Jarrett closed out the banquet by urging people to participate in the census and continue to vote. "Voting should be the most important thing for a black citizen," he said. Jarrett also pointed out the importance of passing knowledge on to the next generation. "We have a new generation coming up and we have a lot of young people coming to take my place ... it's up to us to tell the stories," he said.