By KENNEDY WILLIAMS & MARK TOLLIVER, NEWS3 News Reporters
MACOMB, Illinois (NEWS3) – The city of Macomb and its leaders are taking steps to achieve diversity and inclusion, locally and on the Western Illinois University campus.
At February’s city council meeting, Macomb Mayor Michael Inman issued a proclamation acknowledging Black History Month in Macomb.
“It is our way of talking a little bit about the Black experience in the United States, and more importantly the Black experience here in Macomb, and on-campus relative to the last several decades,” Inman said. “We want to bring awareness to the benefits, and all the folks that have played historical significance, not only at the national level but right here in Macomb.”
McDonough County NAACP President Byron Oden-Shabazz said it is great that the city administration recognized the value of celebrating Black History Month.
“It lets us further acknowledge that we are a part of the American fabric and our history is a part of the American fabric,” Oden-Shabazz said. “When you want change, you have to make some form of acknowledgement of the change and start working toward it.”
