Community

Bridging the Divide - Saying "No" to Hate

On May 21, 2016 the Allegany County, Maryland NAACP Branch 7007 honored the following individuals at its First Annual Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony:

- Pansye Atkinson
- Jean Etta Beckward
- William Colbert (posthumously)
- Alfred Deas
- Carrie Deas
- Albert Feldstein
- James Hurt
- Lucy Reece

The following individuals were also honored with Community Leadership Awards:
- Jo Jacqueline Cooper
- Doris Green
- Emma Watkins

Depicted in the photo are:

Carmen B. Jackson, NAACP President

The following biography appeared in the program booklet that was distributed at the Lifetime Achievement Awards event held on May 21, 2016 by the Allegany County, Maryland NAACP Branch 7007. Carmen B. Jackson, as of this writing, serves as the NAACP Branch President:

James Hurt, Civil Rights Leader

On May 21, 2016 James Hurt was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Allegany County, Maryland NAACP Branch 7007. The following biography appeared in the ceremony program:

CommUNITY Gathering

Edward Fisher, "The Colored Blacksmith"

Edward Fisher was born in 1830 and died on June 6, 1905. A notice in the Cumberland Evening Times of June 7, 1905 reads as follows:

FUNERAL OF EDWARD FISHER
The funeral of Edward Fisher, the colored blacksmith, was attended by a large congregation yesterday afternoon. The service was conducted in Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, Decatur Street and the burial was in Sumner cemetery. The deceased was 75 years old and was one of the best known colored men in the city.

Like many African-Americans during the era of segregation, Lord Nickens experienced his share of racial intolerance and discrimination when he moved to Frederick with his family as a child.

"He was always with the people," said Warren Dorsey, an early advocate for black children in Frederick County Public Schools. "He shared our anxiety. He shared our deprivation, and he shared our denial of services."

A living tribute
Originally published October 03, 2007

By Nancy Hernandez
News-Post Staff

Nearly a year ago, Lord Nickens stood in front of the William O. Lee Memorial Bridge and called on Frederick to recognize the contributions of black residents.
"I want to see many, many blacks honored on something other than a bridge," he said.

At the time, he didn't know he would become the first black resident to have a street named after him.

Allegany Branch of NAACP holds Freedom Fund Dinner

Local residents honored for distinguished service

The Cumberland Times-News Thu Oct 27, 2011

CUMBERLAND — The importance of education was a recurring theme during the Allegany County Branch of the NAACP’s annual Freedom Fund Dinner held Sunday at the Holiday Inn.

Keynote speaker David Cox, superintendent of Allegany County public schools, focused on the vital role of education in a productive society and emphasized community support, especially from the parents.

Ken Barnes, 1954 -

In 2009 Kenneth Barnes was named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cumberland's Riverside YMCA. In the 125 year history of the Cumberland YMCA, Ken Barnes is the first African-American to be selected for the local YMCA's top leadership position.