Black History Month 2020
Honoring historic African American communities in Montgomery County, MD
On February 11, 2020 the Council recognized Black History Month by focusing on the theme “Honoring historic African American communities in Montgomery County.” Last year’s commemoration focused on the importance of preserving and honoring the County’s African American history and its connection to fostering racial equity. This year’s program will focus on the importance of preserving these historic African American communities in the County.
The ceremonies will include a video segment that documents historic African American communities including Emory Grove in Gaithersburg, Scotland in Potomac and White Ground in Boyds. The video features members of these communities including: Kay Freeman, Eddie Dove, Carolyn Taylor, Rev. C. Glenn Taylor, Claudia Golenda and Roger Cartledge. The Council will conclude the commemoration with a special awards presentation for those who participated in the making of the video.
Carolyn Taylor
Carolyn Taylor is a lifelong resident of the Emory Grove community in Gaithersburg. She currently serves as the President of the Historic Emory Grove Rotary Club and is a Lay Servant in the Emory Grove United Methodist Church.
Claudia Golenda
Claudia Golenda has lived in Boyds for more than 20 years. She is the Vice-President and Archivist of the Boyds Historical Society and leads tours of the Boyds Negro School. Prior to retirement in 2012, she worked at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring on vaccine research as well as nonfederal funding for science research.
Eddie Dove
Eddie Dove has lived in Scotland since he was born in 1935. He helped organize the Scotland community and served as past president of the Community Board. Eddie also worked for the Montgomery County Public Schools as a bus operator for 40 years.
Kay Freeman
Kay Freeman has lived in the Scotland community in Potomac since 1971. She is currently a member of the Scotland Community Board.
Rev. C. Glenn Taylor
Rev. C. Glenn Taylor is the pastor of the Jerusalem Baptist Church in Poolesville. One of 16 children and the grandson of a slave, he grew up in Emory Grove, Gaithersburg. He currently lives in Germantown.
Roger Cartledge
Roger Cartledge is a trustee of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Boyds. He has been a member for 30 years and helps take care of this historical church, which was built in 1893.