NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Many in the Hampton Roads community are celebrating and recognizing Black History Month, including Newport News.
On Saturday, the Newport News Public Library held the "We Stand For Justice" event. It honors African Americans, who were pioneers in their professional lives, for their contributions to Hampton Roads.
Those influential people include Lillie Knight, the first African American woman in the Newport News Sheriff's Department; Mary Smith, the first African American librarian in Newport News; and Philip Walker, the first African American judge appointed on the peninsula.
By honoring their legacies and amplifying their stories, the ceremony hopes to inspire others to break barriers with their own talents and voices.
The ceremony also featured a mini-documentary of their contributions and dance and music performances.