Black History Month 2022

"African-American heroes and heroines have an important lesson to offer all Americans because they exhibit a determination and a moral integrity that enriches our nation and perfects the human spirit."

• Sophronia Williams

• Sheila Stiles Jewell

• Cardinal Wilton Gregory

• Chef Kevin Belton

She helped to establish the National Right to Life Committee and served three times as its president.

• Jacqueline Wilson

• Dr. Mildred Jefferson

• Kendrick Perkins

• St. Josephine Bakhita

a Guinean princess who was kidnapped by Spanish sailors and sold into slavery.

• Jacqueline Wilson

• Venerable Teresa Chikaba

• Kendrick Perkins

• Dr. Mildred Jefferson

"Besides some of the traditional dishes, also some of the influences from other cultures that are in our area, like this show

we did South America, we did Greek, we did Vietnamese, food we find all around our area from the different cultures."

• Sophronia Williams

• Sheila Stiles Jewell

• Cardinal Wilton Gregory

• Chef Kevin Belton

"The one thing that really helped me during that process -- I'm Catholic, I grew up Catholic, my kids are Catholic..."

• St. Josephine Bakhita

• Kendrick Perkins

• Kobe Bryant

• Dr. Mildred Jefferson

"People often tell me I was lucky. No, I was blessed. I don't like that word 'lucky' ... I believe in a plan, and I believe it was

there for me,"

• Chef Kevin Belton

• Gloria Purvis

• Sophronia Williams

• Sheila Stiles Jewell

I went to an African American Catholic school in the South, so all of my peers, my friends, the other students with me, were African American as well.

• Gloria Purvis

• Sheila Stiles Jewell

• Lloyd Austin

• Sophronia Williams

"Another thing that I enjoy about the Basilica is that you get to see so many people from different walks of life. Old, young,

rich, poor; It doesn't matter who you are."

• Kobe Bryant

• St. Josephine Bakhita

• Kendrick Perkins

• World War II veteran Walter Robinson

"I ask Jesus to take that [aching] as a prayer," she says.

"And my work becomes my prayer."

• Aaron Neville

• Daniel Rudd

• Leah Chase

• Lloyd Austin

"It's an honor and a privilege to serve as our country's 28th Secretary of Defense, And I'm especially proud to be the first

African American to hold the position."

• Sophronia Williams

• Lloyd Austin

• Gloria Purvis

• Sheila Stiles Jewell