>> and on behalf of the society, its board of directors, and want to welcome you to the celebration of the 2012 black history month kickoff program here at city hall. on behalf of our sponsors, comcast, represented by linda

today, i believe, and mr. chang, from comcast, on behalf of our co presenters who are in the audience and listed on the back of your program -- i will read them off to you and ask that they would stand as i read the groups of. the alpha kappa alpha sorority. we have the bayview ymca urban services program. please remain standing, if you would. we have the black women organized for political action in the crown. we have a black women's during the waters with us today. gamma phi delta sorority. the museum of the african diaspora. the national coalition of 100 black women, san francisco chapter. the it san francisco chapter of the links inc.. let us give them a round of applause.

[applause] these are all code-presenters of this event. it is a portrait these organizations are here. the theme for black history this month is black women in american culture and history. all these organizations are organizations of black women who do an outstanding and amazing job. i would also like to acknowledge members of the official family, supervisor malia cohen, supervisor, fifth district, supervisor chu, supervisor olague, and supervisor weiner. i am going to miss some people. we have port commissioner kim brandon with us today. [applause] and a host of others. i am sure i will get the names

as they come up. i would like to thank you for being here, and welcome. we are going to start the program with an indication by reverend carolyn dyson. reverend dyson, who is going to do the indication for us, also has the signal honor of being the first woman ordained in the baptist church in the city and county of san francisco, back in 1982. join me in welcoming rev. dyson, please. [applause] >> good afternoon, everybody. an indication. we come as a community today, calling for the validation and good things on this occasion, in celebration of black history. we have gathered at this moment in time so that historical truths would be this month pepys

celebration foundation, as the city once again owners the contributions of african- americans. let the scribe's record that on the third day of february, in the year 2012, in the city of st. francis, time stood still as the historical accounts of african americans in america and in san francisco were acknowledged for their contributions that helped to build the nation and the city. as we allow this invitation to lend itself to truth, i pray that there can be an understanding, that there can be no history that does not weaved into the fabric of its record the true, undistorted account of the slaves, the negros, black folks, and african americans,

calling forth the truth of our journey today. and truth be told, while our babies were being sold, our men were still call boys, and our women were referenced as dell's and girls. black people, my people, our people even then, were daring to make differences and contributions to american history. you can say amen. from harriet tubman to slave porters in the underground railroad, to michelle obama and today's white house. the footprints on history from african-americans cannot be washed away. and the bells of greatness, ingenious, artistic talent, philanthropy, and leadership cannot be on rum -- cannot be unrung. we have come this far by faith.

we celebrate and embrace this theme of the african american women, culture, and history. wellcome will not allow me in this discourse to call the role of great women in african american history. let me pray that their numbers are many, and the stories of them tell the truth of women, african american women, in culture and history. for our women have been on the move. our women have refused to be moved. and our women continue to move mountains in african american history. and now, in closing, let me cradle this month's celebration in the history -- in the city of st. francis, with a sense of gratitude and neutral respect. the we black, white, brown, or red, we are all god's children. mavis in vacation -- may this

invocation be accepted and the record show that in the city of st. francis, black history 2012 celebrated in truth the contribution, culture, and history of african-americans, and their contributions to this nation and to this great city. let us say a man. -- amen. >> thank you, reverend dyson. ok. with that, we are going to move to the next item on the agenda, which is the singing of "lift every voice and sing," the negro national anthem. it is in your program. the words in your program. we are only going to sing the first stanza. we are not going to sing all three versus of it.

in your program. please stand. >> everyone join in with singing the national anthem, "lift every voice and sing," by james weldon johnson. ♪ lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring rang with the harmony of liberty let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies let it resume armed -- resound loud as the roaring sea

sing a song full of the hope it has brought us sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us facing the rising sun of our new day begun let us march on till victory is won ♪ thank you. [applause] >> i understand that the mayor will be joining us in a minute. i have some other person's i would like to identify it as

present. commissioner griffith is with us. also harlan kelly, assistant general manager san francisco public utilities commission, junior partner to our keynote speaker today. [applause] dr. veronica honey cut with the san francisco community college. a member of the board of education. dr. moses is with us. commissioner linda richardson is with us also. one of the things that is significant -- i mentioned that reverend dyson is the first woman ordained in the baptist church in san francisco, in 1982. it is also very significant that this year -- we should also be aware this is the 160th anniversary of three of the leading religious institutions in the african american community.

the zion church, of bethel, and third baptist will all be celebrating their 160th anniversary this year. these churches were established two years after san francisco was established. thank you for joining us. [applause] the other thing i would like to speak briefly on is the fact that we celebrate black history month annually. black history month was started under the auspices of the association for the study of african american life and history. it was designed as a time when we highlight the contributions and roll african americans have played in society in general, and the world at large. recently, there was a movie that was screened that i have the

privilege of being on a panel to discuss a after the movie. it was entitled "more than just a month." there was a discussion going on about the history, whether african american history should be relegated to a month, or whether it should be celebrated 365 days of the year. the effect of the matter is that it is celebrated 365 days a year. this represents a culmination of a specific focus. when we talk about african- american history, we are talking about african american history not as a separate and distinct history, but as an integral part of history -- the history of san francisco, the history of the united states, and of the world. we cannot think about this broader concept of history without understanding the role and contributions people of african descent have played in this broader statement of what

history is. this is true not only for people of african descent, but all people. we are all part of history. "we present from the african american perspective is simply that -- a perspective of history that helps fill up that picture. without the understanding of these covers perspectives, it is difficult to fully appreciate our true history. i am doing the best i can appear. -- up here. i guess we should have some of three stanzas a couple of times. [laughter] we also have ms. jackson with us. a pleasure to have you with us. in your programs, there is also a flier in your programs. it is on the flip side of "lift every voice and sing." it is a flier about a program which will be doing on sunday,

february 26. we will be honoring several african american women, consistent with the theme of african american history and culture. those women are identified here. we do have one of them with us today. i have a supervisor kennedy with us today. she will be one of the people we will be honoring on the 26th. we certainly encourage you all to come out and be part of that event. that is fine. with that, i think what we will do is -- are featured speaker today -- the mayor was delayed with some matters of urgency

before him. rather than delay further, we will move on. i will assume the honor. there is no way i can do the justice he would have done to introducing our keynote speaker today. but i will say that in your programs we have a brief biography of our keynote speaker today, naomi kelly. you can read that at your leisure about her background. suffice it to say that ms. kelly is an extraordinary woman with a great contribution to the city and county of san francisco in her administrative capacities. we have the pleasure of working with her and the city administrator, ed lee, when the society was engaged in working to have the city adopts a slavery disclosure ordinance, which the board of supervisors did adopt. it is on the book. the ordinance would require

certain entities that do business with the city to disclose whether their origins -- where they have their origins historic plea, and whether they are in any way related to slave trade. we worked closely with ms. kelley in that regard. the skills, expertise, and commitment she brought to that challenge was unswerving in terms of its implementation. at the board of supervisors last week, we were there when the announcement -- when she was before committee with regard to her nomination to become the next city administrator. i got up and made a few comments. somebody got up after me. i said to that after him, "i wish i had said what he said." he said we talk about the fact that naomi kelly, hopefully next tuesday, will be approved by the board of supervisors to become the first african- american, first woman